Question 1

What are the advantages of 'offshoring' to the companies that employ the services of workers in countries such as India? How do the service industries compare to the manufacturing industries in terms of their treatment of workers in developing countries? What problems might this create for economies such as the United States'?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the advantages of 'offshoring' to...

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a type of service calls that can be 'offshored' by First World countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

All three options (overflow telephone calls, off-hour telephone calls, basic customer services) are examples of service calls that can be offshored by First World countries. This is because these tasks can often be performed remotely and at a lower cost by workers in developing countries.

Question 3

According to Taylor and Bain's research, which of the following is probably the most important criterion in training the Indian call centers workers?

Accepted Answer

Taylor and Bain's research on Indian call centers emphasizes the importance of neutralizing the accent of the workers. This is aimed at making customers unaware that they are speaking to offshore operators, which is considered a critical aspect of training for these workers.

Question 4

Why are the risks of trafficking men and women comparatively minimal, especially when compared to other international crimes where border crossing is involved?

Accepted Answer

Prostitution is legal or tolerated in many countries, making it easier for traffickers to evade punishment. Even where prostitution is illegal, the penalties are usually minor, and enforcement efforts tend to focus more on the prostitutes than the perpetrators. This all contributes to the overall minimal risks associated with trafficking men and women, despite crossing international borders.

Question 5

The women who are recruited for sex work in wealthy countries are forced to do several things against their will. Which of the following is NOT one of these types of behavior mentioned by Hodge and Leitz?

Accepted Answer

While forced drug sales may be a form of exploitation in some contexts, it is not specifically mentioned as one of the behaviors forced upon women recruited for sex work in wealthy countries by Hodge and Leitz. The other options listed, engaging in abusive sexual acts and excessive client demands, are explicitly mentioned as forms of exploitation that women are forced to endure. Option D is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that women are forced into behaviors against their will.

Question 6

For the Indian workers employed by companies such as Nasscom, which of the following descriptions best describes them?

Accepted Answer

CB) Indian workers in companies like Nasscom often face high-pressure, demanding jobs that can lead to stress and burnout, reflecting the competitive and fast-paced nature of the tech and IT industries in which these companies operate.C) Many employees in these sectors typically have college educations and come from relatively well-off backgrounds, which is indicative of the higher educational requirements and the socio-economic status of many professionals in India's booming IT and tech industry.

Question 7

Trafficking of young women and children is considered to be third largest source of revenue for organized crime. Which of the following pairs come before trafficking?

Accepted Answer

Narcotics and weapons are both known to be major sources of revenue for organized crime groups and typically come before trafficking in terms of profitability. The other options listed may also generate revenue for criminal organizations, but they are not typically ranked as highly as narcotics and weapons.

Question 8

According to statistics cited by Hodge and Leitz, home many people are estimated to be trafficked across borders annually?

Accepted Answer

According to statistics cited by Hodge and Leitz, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across borders annually.

Question 9

Describe the typical work life of an Indian call worker. What problems do these workers encounter while on the job? How do they feel about their jobs? In your opinion, are we doing these workers a favor by employing them at wages much higher than the average wage in their country or are we doing them a disservice by employing them in call centers? Please explain and defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the typical work life of an...

Question 10

Which of the following are used by Western corporations when they train Indian call workers to speak in a dialect that can be understood by most callers?

Accepted Answer

Western corporations use a variety of techniques to train Indian call workers, including understanding different accents, role-playing exercises to improve communication skills, and practicing tongue twisters to minimize the impact of accents on English pronunciation.

Question 11

What do you think are the arguments that the 'hyperglobalists' are making? What is the essence of their argument? What negative effects of the current global economy to you think they see as influencing American economy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do you think are the arguments...

Question 12

Quoting Taylor and Bain, complete the following sentence: "It is remarkable how the Indian industry not only ___________, albeit in an exaggerated form, a labor process that has proved ___________ for employers and employees alike in the west."

Accepted Answer

The phrase "albeit in an exaggerated form" suggests that the Indian industry is reproducing a problematical labor process that has been proven to be problematical for employers and employees alike in the west. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 13

In terms of how women are recruited to be trafficked, which of the following is NOT a method that Hodge and Lietz discuss?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In terms of how women are recruited...

Question 14

How do recruiters assure that the women they trafficked will stay in the countries to which they were brought and perform the services that are required of them?

Accepted Answer

Traffickers may use various tactics to ensure that trafficked women stay in the countries where they were brought and perform the services required of them. These tactics may include threats, violence, holding onto passports, and intimidation. Using all of these tactics together can make it extremely difficult for a trafficked woman to leave or escape her situation.

Question 15

Which type of countries is considered to be the most likely recipient of illegal trafficked people, especially women and children?

Accepted Answer

Wealthy countries in which large sex industries exist or where prostitution is tolerated are often considered the most likely recipients of illegally trafficked people, especially women and children. These countries provide a profitable market for the traffickers, who can sell their victims for high prices to meet the demand for cheap labor and/or sexual exploitation. The existence of a large sex industry or the tolerance of prostitution also creates conditions in which the trafficked people can be easily hidden and exploited, making it difficult for law enforcement to detect and prevent trafficking.

Question 16

One of the hindrances holding back trafficked children and women is that they are "innumerate," which makes it difficult for them to keep track of their business. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Being "innumerate" means that they have never been taught to count, which can make it difficult for them to keep track of their business and transactions.

Question 17

Which of the following is the methodology used by Taylor and Bain in doing their research on Indian call centers?

Accepted Answer

Taylor and Bain used a combination of fieldwork in call centers, semi-structured interviews with senior managers, and secret group discussions with call center workers outside the workplace in their research on Indian call centers. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 18

Push and pull factors may be operating that contribute to the sexual trafficking of young women and children. Which of the following is not considered a "push" factor by Hodge and Leitz?

Accepted Answer

According to Hodge and Leitz, push factors that contribute to sexual trafficking include poverty, war, and lack of promising futures in their home countries. However, images of a glamorous nation offering a better life would be considered a "pull" factor, not a push factor.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a problem that Taylor and Bath describe for the people who work in the call centers they studied?

Accepted Answer

Taylor and Bath's study on call center workers does not specifically mention the impact of work on the workers' sex lives. The other options (A, B, D) relate to common issues identified in call center environments, such as shift work, health problems, and poor working conditions.

Question 20

What do the Indian call workers experience because they have to hide their locations and use pseudonyms to their telephone customers?

Accepted Answer

Indian call workers often experience anger, impatience, racism, and poor treatment from customers who may react negatively upon discovering that they are not speaking to someone in their desired location.

Quiz 1: Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology