Exploit the Land, Exploit the People: The Treadmill of Production and Community Advocates for Farmworkers in Texas

The structure of the agricultural industry in the United States has changed significantly since World War II, with consequences for agricultural laborers. This study is framed by Schnaiberg's (1980) treadmill of production theory, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 community advocates for farmworkers in Texas. The results of these interviews demonstrate that community advocates face factors limiting their resistance to the treadmill, including: funding restrictions, the structure of the agricultural industry in Texas, socio-cultural conditions for Texas farmworkers, and limitations to binational/transnational efforts. Community advocates also discussed factors promoting their resistance to the treadmill, including: exclusion from the system, integration of human and environmental issues, participation in networks and coalitions, and promotion of an alternative. This study documents both groups of factors within the process of treadmill resistance.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor

Texas State University-San Marcos

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Edwards, Michelle Lynn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Giuffre, Patti

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Smith, Chad Leighton
• McKinney, Audrey

• farmworkers
• community advocacy
• treadmill of production
• Texas
• agricultural industry
• environment

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/3400

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/3400