Essay Questions

How does Seth Holmes link structural violence to the experiences of migrant farmworkers in the United States?

Holmes explores the concept of structural violence in his ethnography by illustrating how social structures disadvantage individuals. He emphasizes that structural violence is embedded in the very fabric of the migrant labor system, creating a hierarchy that perpetuates inequality and suffering among migrant farmworkers. Holmes’ five years of fieldwork among the Triqui people from Oaxaca reveal the daily realities of these workers. They face dangerous border crossings, exploitative working conditions, and poor living environments. Holmes shows that the normalization of these conditions results from societal stereotypes and prejudices. For instance, he discusses how the physically demanding and injury-prone work that farmworkers endure is seen as a natural fit for them due to racial and ethnic hierarchies.

What role does the medical community play in the lives of migrant farmworkers, and does it contribute to or alleviate their suffering?

Holmes critically examines the role of the medical community in perpetuating the suffering of migrant farmworkers. In the chapter "Doctors Don’t Know Anything," he argues that healthcare professionals fail to understand the broader social and economic contexts of their patients' lives. This lack of contextual awareness can lead to inadequate and sometimes harmful medical care. The "clinical gaze," a term Holmes borrows from Michel Foucault, refers to the way medical professionals view patients through a narrow biomedical lens. They focus on symptoms and diagnoses without considering the external factors contributing to illness. For migrant farmworkers, this means that their health issues are seen in isolation from their working conditions, poverty, and social stressors.

How do ethnic hierarchies manifest in the working conditions and social interactions among migrant farmworkers, and what are the implications for their well-being?

In the chapter "Segregation on the Farm," Holmes details the ethnic hierarchies that structure labor relations on farms. These hierarchies determine the types of jobs that workers are assigned, their wages, and their treatment by supervisors and fellow workers. For example, indigenous Triqui workers occupy the lowest positions in the labor hierarchy, performing the most physically demanding and least desirable tasks while mestizo Mexicans and white Americans hold supervisory roles. These ethnic hierarchies are a source of economic inequality and a form of social exclusion and discrimination. Triqui workers face daily humiliation and marginalization, which Holmes argues contributes to their physical and psychological suffering. The stratification based on ethnicity exacerbates tensions and conflicts among workers making it difficult for them to organize and advocate for better conditions.