final paper soc. prob. ds

Running Head: EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAIT AND UNITED STATES1

Effective Social Policy:

Kuwait and the United States

Drew Shawl

SOC 3400

Dr. Strassberg

4-27-14

EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAT AND UNITED STATES2

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to formulate and support two separate social policies to

effectively address both the domestic worker social problem and the human trafficking problem

in the United States (US). Joel Best’s book Social Problems is used as a guideline to effectively

create the social policies. Scott Sernau’s work Global Problems is used to provide factual

support for the social policies. To address the domestic worker social problem I advocate for a

Domestic Workers’ Rights Act. In order to effectively deal with human trafficking in the US, I

argue for an Economic Bill of Rights that would be focus on diminishing inequalities as a way to

reduce crimes like human trafficking. D. Stanley Eitzen provides different works that are

referenced to support my social policies. Other sources are referenced to support my claims.This

essay concludes that they implementation of my proposed social policies would effectively deal

with either social problem.


Effective Social Policy: Kuwait and United States

Creating new social policies is an important step in solving social problems. Many times

the status quo of social problems is maintained by social policies already in effect. Changing

current social policies is a long process that takes time. A crucial step in policy making is

creating new policies to replace the old. Current policies are ineffective in dealing with the social

problems of domestic workers in Kuwait and human trafficking in the US. In this essay, I

provide two policies that would effectively deal with both the domestic worker social problem in

Kuwait, and the human trafficking problem in the US.

Review of Literature

In this work we look at different sources addressing sociology. Joel Best provides a work

on how claimsmakers are related to the development of social problems, and how social policies

can best address social problems. We reference Scott Sernau’s Global Problems which addresses

global problems and characterizes the route of these problems while comparing different

countries to one another. D. Stanley Eitzen’s Solution to Social Problems provides us with

different examples of how countries try to address social problems. Furthermore the works

Eitzen includes provides support for some of this essay’s claims.

This essay also uses different social scientific works to provide support for the claims

made. Aaserud et al. is referenced in its’ description of domestic workers in Kuwait. The Human

Rights Watch gives us information on domestic workers’ situation in Kuwait. D. Hodge provides

a study on sexual trafficking in the US. V. Esses, P. Brochu, and K. Dickson’s work is

referenced in the role undocumented workers play in the US. Kristen Gregory gives a study on

how treating employees with respect promotes higher productivity. Bruce Western is referenced


in his comparison of the relationship between inequalities and incarceration rates in the US.

Daniel Rossides argues that the concept of American Exceptionalism is harmful to social

problems. We also use Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union Address. Lastly, Jeffery

Beatty and Susan Samuelson are referenced in their work on Business Law in the US.

Making Policy: Kuwait

I believe that there needs to be a workers’ rights act implemented for domestic workers in

Kuwait. It will be called the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act. Domestic workers would receive

legal representation in forming contracts, and their employers would be legally accountable for

upholding contracts with their employee. The act would also create a domestic worker labor

union to represent domestic workers in the Kuwaiti legislative, judiciary and criminal systems.

We will address how this policy should be framed, what provisions should be included, and why

this policy would be most effective for solving the domestic worker social problem.

Framing

In order to make this social policy effective, we will need to focus on how to shape the

policy in a way that the Kuwaiti population and government will accept it. As the domestic

social problem is now, Kuwaiti people have countered claimsmakers by saying domestic workers

are a necessity, and they do not really deserve the same rights as Kuwaiti citizens (Aaserud

2013). This is what Best describes as “dialogue” between the audience and the claimsmakers. In

order to change the populations’ mind, the claimsmakers must analyze the feedback from

dialogue, and reform their claim (Best 2013, Ch. 2). Claimsmakers should reform their claim to

say that giving domestic worker’s rights is economically and socially beneficial.


One way claimsmakers should frame their argument is to advocate that domestic workers

can help bolster a good domestic economy in Kuwait. Take the example of undocumented

Mexican workers in the United States. While many U.S. citizens argue that undocumented

workers ‘take’ jobs away from U.S. citizens, undocumented workers actually provide a

consumer base. Furthermore, undocumented workers pay into Social Security, but do not receive

anything back (Esses et. al. 2012). This makes undocumented workers beneficial to the U.S.

economy. One provision of the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act will include programs to help

domestic workers assimilate into the Kuwaiti society. This will help domestic to become

consumers, and encourage them to be active members of the society. Given that domestic

workers make up 660,000 of the 2.7 million Kuwait population, Kuwait would greatly benefit

from domestic workers being active members of the economy.

By framing domestic works as an economic advantage, claimsmakers may be able to

bypass some resistance from the Kuwait audience. However, we cannot assume that framing

domestic workers rights as being an economic advantage will create widespread acceptance. Best

says “claimsmakers have to try again and again to achieve widespread attention for their claims;

they must try out claims, assess the audience’s response, revise the claims, and so on, until they

develop a persuasive argument” (Best 2013, p. 46). Since economic benefit may not be enough

to convince the opposition, there needs to be other claims supporting the benefits domestic

workers would have on Kuwait society.

I would also frame the Domestic Workers Right Act as beneficial to the Kuwait society

as a whole. Best says, “Cultural resources are available to be exploited whenever claims are

created” (Best, p. 54). In order for this framework to work, I would focus the cultural resources

that the Kuwaiti people have towards childrearing and necessary household functions. Domestic


workers often have a role in childrearing. Furthermore, the traditional Kuwaiti family structure

was based on large distant relatives (Aaserud 2013). As the society modernizes and urbanizes,

Kuwaiti children do not receive the same childrearing they traditionally did. Domestic workers

are a viable means to meet childrearing needs. Through regulating domestic workers with the

Domestic Workers Rights Act, there would be high standards set to focus on raising children to

become active members of society and discourage deviance.

If domestic workers are seen as a necessity by Kuwaiti people, receiving good results

should also be a priority. By paying and treating their employees fairly, their employees would

have a better attitude towards their job and work more efficiently. In a study on the importance

of employee satisfaction, Gregory found that treating employees fairly increases their

productivity (Gregory 2011). Since Gregory’s study mainly focused on company jobs in western

society, it does not accurately conclude that treating domestic workers fairly would promote

more efficient work. However, it is still important to realize that being treated fairly can cause

employees to work more efficiently. In order for this particular point to be made, I would have to

study the effects that abuse and mistreatment have on domestic workers’ performance in Kuwait.

Provisions

In order to effectively deal with the domestic worker social problem in Kuwait, it is not

enough to frame the policy effectively. The policy must also accurately deal with the problem.

One of the major issues concerning domestic workers is that they are not given citizenship or

protection under Kuwait law. This allows employers to abuse their workers without any criminal

consequences. Since many Kuwaiti people see domestic workers as lesser (Aaserud 2013), it

would be hard to convince the Kuwaiti people to give full citizenship to domestic workers.


Instead, the Domestic Workers Right Act should give working rights to domestic workers. These

workers’ rights would protect domestic workers from abuse by giving them legal rights, provide

a standard contract wage, and regulate migrating domestic workers.

Providing legal rights to domestic workers has to be the first step in the Domestic

Workers’ Rights Act. Without legal rights, domestic workers have no protection from their

employers. Under the current Kafala system, domestic workers do not have any legal protections

from their employers. According to the Humans Right Watch, domestic workers who report

abuse by from their employer are ignored due to legal or practical barriers (Walls at Every Turn

2010). The only way to stop abuse is to make employers accountable for their actions. Punishing

employers for abusing domestic workers would not completely stop physical abuse, but it would

give domestic workers power over their own situation.

Next, a standard contract wage should be upheld and enforced. One problem domestic

workers have is that they are dependent on wages from their employer. Often times the wages

given aren’t even enough to live off. By creating a living wage standard for domestic workers,

they would not be as dependent on their employer. However, just setting a standard wage is not

enough because employers may refuse to pay the full amount after entering into the contract

much like they do now. Employers should be legally held to the contract wage so that if they

decide to breach the contract, the domestic worker will still be entitled to the set wage.

Lastly, domestic workers’ migration into Kuwait and other countries must be regulated.

Currently domestic workers migrate to countries like Kuwait because they have little economic

opportunities in their native countries. Domestic workers’ economic desperation allows them to

be exploited. By regulating the migration of domestic workers, exploitation would decrease. In


order to accomplish this, the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act would need to be accepted by

Kuwait and other countries. Then an office or administration would need to be created. This

administration would receive applications from women seeking employment, and then mediate a

contract between the employer and soon to be domestic worker. Mediation tactics like this are

common practice in many countries. In the United States lawyers are often used in creation of

contracts to protect both parties’ interests (Beatty and Samuelson 2012). While mediation tactics

are not always foolproof, in the domestic workers’ case mediation tactic would still provide legal

protection where there was none.

Addressing Social Problems through Policy Changes

Many of the solutions I have given to address the domestic worker social problem in

Kuwait are based on studies or ideas from Western culture. Western ideas and policies may not

be best suitable for non-western cultures. However, we must recognize the success western

culture has had on societal development. According the Sernau, Singapore, Hong Kong (SAR),

South Korea, and Japan are among the countries that rank above a .800 on the Human

Development Index (HDI) 2010 (Sernau 2012, p. 18). The other ten countries above a .800 are

all Western societies, and they hold the top eight percentages. If Kuwait society continues to

become more modernized and urbanized, they will need to change their policies to address social

problems created by modernization and urbanization like the domestic workers. Western

societies’ attempts to deal with social problems should be used as frame work for Kuwait.

However, Kuwait should not try to create a carbon copy of western societies. Instead, Kuwait

needs to adapt a model that is hybridized to fit Kuwait culture.


When we look at examples of countries that have hybridized western ideals while

retaining their own culture, Japan seems to stick out. Sernua says, “Japan manages to combine

the Asian graciousness… with the Western sense of efficiency that many have missed” (Sernua

2012, p. 290). Japan has prospered from their combination of western ideas, and is currently the

second largest economy in the world even though China is about to pass them. Sernua continues

to say that many countries are faced with problems brought by advancements in technology, and

“The Japanese technological response has been superb” (Sernua 2012, p. 292). Kuwait should

take into consideration Japan’s successfulness. Furthermore, Kuwait should recognize that with

new challenges coming from modernization and urbanization, it is important to make social

changes. By accepting the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act, Kuwait would be one step closer to a

better society in an ever globalizing, changing, and developing world.

Making Policy: United States

The United States has some of the highest crime rates and poverty rates among Western

societies. The cause to these social problems is high levels of inequalities, and the inability to

deal with social problems. The US has been desensitized to many social problems by the concept

of American Exceptionalism. American Exceptionalism is the idea that American society is

exceptional from all other societies because it is the ‘greatest’ society. Therefore any social

changes will only be for the worse because we are already the greatest society. This concept of

American Exceptionalism is false.

Among Western societies, the US ranks very low in many categories. In a study on

American Exceptionalism, Rossides says, “Exceptionalist ideology… is so powerful that few

Americans are aware that their society leads the developed world in virtually all social


pathologies and inefficiencies” (Rossides 2013, p. 23). Among these categories are wealth

distribution, obesity, and domestic violence. Furthermore, the US fails to deal with social

problems. For example, Figure 1.2 of Sernua’s Global Problems, shows that the US spends

money to deal with child poverty and the US still has higher rates of child poverty than other

Western countries (Sernua 2012, Fig 1.2). Dealing with all of these social problems one by one

would take a lot of policy making and deliberation. Instead, policies should focus on macro

issues that cause social problems in the United States.

Macro Problems: Inequalities

Current policies addressing human trafficking in the United States are formed around

intervention. I believe that a more suitable way to effectively address human trafficking in the

US is to deal with the inequalities. The US has the largest inequalities among Western countries

(Americans for Democratic Action 2007). In a study on the relationship between inequalities and

incarceration, Western found that inequalities in employment and education are directly related

to higher incarceration rates (Western, 2007). Since human trafficking is a criminal business that

is a major source of income for organized crime (Hodge 2008), policies should seek to diminish

inequalities as a way to reduce crime. This would be a preventative tactic that seeks to eradicate

crime instead of just dealing with crime.

I propose that in order to deal with inequalities, an Economic Bill of Rights needs to be

implemented. In US history, an Economic Bill of Rights is not unheard of. President Franklin D.

Roosevelt (FDR) proposed an Economic Bill of Rights to Congress in the 1944 State of the

Union Address. The bill included:


The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or

farms or mines of the nation (1); The right to earn enough to provide adequate

food and clothing and recreation (2); The right of every farmer to raise and sell

his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living (3);

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of

freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or

abroad (4); The right of every family to a decent home (5); The right to adequate

medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health (6); The right

to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and

unemployment (7); The right to a good education (8) (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

This example has provided me with the framework to my own Economic Bill of Rights.

My bill will ensure the right to a living wage (2), the right to free and efficient health care

(5), the right to “protection from economic fears of old, age, sickness, accident, and

unemployment” (FDR 7), and the right to free and good education (8).

Assessing Success

First we will look at whether or not the Economic Bill of Rights would be successful in

dealing with social problems. We will focus on poverty and inequalities. Many other Western

societies have implemented social programs similar to my proposed Economic Bill of Rights,

and they have experienced success in dealing with social problems like poverty and inequalities.

For example, we look at the Republic of Ireland. In Ryan’s’ How Other Countries Fight the War

on Poverty, he says the places with the best “socio-economic model that benefits the majority of

citizens and where poverty rates are lowest” are Scandinavian countries (Ryan 2007, p. 40).


The Scandinavian model is characterized by a living wage, low taxes for low incomes,

increased child care, housing and heat subsidies, and more workers’ training programs. The

Scandinavian model shares many of the same principles my Economic Bill of Rights. Ireland

implemented a type of the Scandinavian model. The results of having such a model are “greater

social cohesion, equality of opportunity and poverty rates are lower” (Ryan 2007, p. 41). This

example shows that giving economic rights to people helps the society in many social areas like

poverty.

Next we will address how inequalities will be lessened through the Economic Bill of

Rights. According to a Fischer et. al’s comparison of inequalities between countries, the US has

the highest income gap among Western countries (Fischer et. al 1996). The US socio-economic

model is characterized by “low taxes, low unionization rates, for-profit health care, low

minimum wage rates, and great income disparity” (Ryan 2007, p. 41) This current model has

only increased inequalities in the US. The Economic Bill of Rights would reduce inequalities

because by changing the current socio-economic model into one that actually produces results

like the other Western countries’ socio-economic models. Through reducing poverty and

inequalities, crime would be reduced. Since human trafficking part of crime, human trafficking

would most likely also be reduced.

Conclusion

The world is becoming more interconnected as globalization booms through

technological advancements. The sharing and spreading of ideas has never been more prominent

than today. Globalization presents us with the chance to advance socially, economically, and

technologically, but it is important that societies effectively deal with the changes caused by


rapid change. Every culture has similarities and differences, and no culture is superior to another.

We are all humans with basic rights, and realizing this we encourage the spread, adaptation, and

synthesis of new ideas that can help benefit every society.

Works Cited

Aaserud, J. L., Basciano, T., Braunmiller, J., D'Onofrio, M., Flannagan, K., Kalt, B., & Ko, V.

(2013). The Protection of the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers in a Country of Origin

and a Country of Destination: Case Studies of the Philippines and Kuwait Washington

D.C.: The Johns Hopkins University SAIS. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from

http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Domestic-Workers-

Report-2013_Electronic-Version.pdf

Americans for Democratic Action. (2010). Income and Wealth Inequality. In D. S. Eitzen & .

(Eds.), Solutions to Social Problems (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Beatty, J. F., & Samuelson, S. S. (2012). Essentials of Business Law (4th ed.). Mason, OH:

Cengage Advantage Books.

Best, J. (2013). Social Problems (Second ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Esses, V. M., Brochu, P. M., & Dickson, K. R. (2012). Economic Costs, Economic Benefits, and

Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration.Analyses Of Social Issues & Public

Policy, 12(1), 133-137. doi:10.1111/j.1530-2415.2011.01269.x


Fischer, C. S., Hout, M., Jankowski, M. S., Lucas, S. R., Swidler, A., & Voss, K. (2010).

Inequality Here and There. In D. S. Eitzen (Ed.), Solutions to Social Problems (5th ed.).

Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: "State of the Union Message to Congress," January 11, 1944. Online by

Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=16518.

Gregory, Kristen. "The Importance of Employee Satisfaction." Neumann Business

Review (2011). Web. 25 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.neumann.edu/academics/divisions/business/journal/review2011/gregory.pdf

>.

Hodge, D. R. (2008). Sexual Trafficking in the United States: A Domestic Problem with

Transnational Dimensions. Social Work, 53(2), 143-152

Human Rights Watch. (2013). Walls At Every Turn: Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers

through Kuwait’s Sponsorship System. New York, NY: Author. Retrieved February 12,

2014, from http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait1010webwcover.pdf

Rossides, D. (2013). American Exceptionalism Turned Upside Down. Social Policy, 43(4), 23-

27.

Ryan, S. (2010). How Other Countries Fight the War on Poverty. In D. S. Eitzen (Ed.), Solutions

to Social Problems (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Western, B. (2007). Mass Imprisonment and Economic Inequality. Social Research, 74(2), 509-

532.

final paper soc. prob. ds

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