Kate McDonald on Asian Mobility History as Labor History
Peoples & Things
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Rethinking Technological Narratives
This chapter critically examines the contrasting narratives of technological progress in Western contexts versus the realities of labor and transportation in non-Western regions, particularly through the lens of Japan's rickshaw culture. It discusses the implications of human-powered transport in an era of mechanization and highlights the importance of labor in shaping technological histories. By critiquing prevailing developmental narratives, the chapter advocates for a more nuanced understanding of innovation that accounts for the livelihoods of transportation workers.
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