INTL201

Much of the discussion in the past weeks has been in relation to the changes in social structures around the world. One very interesting article from the E&Z reader was that which discussed the “globalization” of childbirth-- specifically of surrogate pregnancies-- which has definitely been an example of the changes in the “traditional first-world family”, as well as many of the changes in the structure of labor in the developing world. Prior to reading the article, my own impression of surrogate pregnancies was from the movie “Baby Mama”, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, which comedically tells the story of two American women who, together, experience the process of a surrogate pregnancy. Though, to contrast “Baby Mama”, the article “Childbirth at a Global Crossroads”, by Arlie Russell Hochschild, tells, quite seriously, the reality of surrogate pregnancies and their common practice in developing countries. (BBC) Hochschild paints a picture of the economic support that ...

One of the many McDonald's restaurants on a city street in Gothenburg, Sweden To what extent is globalization influenced by the Western world? These past two weeks have been filled with a lot of discussions-- especially ones centered around the idea of Westernization vs. Globalization. Along with Westernization, we have focused a bit on the idea of cultural homogenization and whether or not, as Steger claims, “Western norms and lifestyles are overwhelming more vulnerable cultures” (E&Z, 147). The concept of the effect of the Westernization-- and particularly Americanization-- within the global community has always been fascinating-- especially because it does seem to influence many cultural aspects in other countries. From my own experience, I was shocked when I saw children in Sweden wearing shirts with the American flag on them or New York Yankees hats despite not speaking English or having been to America. The concentration on the “American” image-- especially on Amer...