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Peoples & Things
Kate McDonald on Asian Mobility History as Labor History
Jul 29, 2024
Kate McDonald, an Associate Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara specializing in Asian mobility and labor, sheds light on the rich narratives of transport history. She discusses her work on rickshaws and railroads, emphasizing the significance of human-powered transport in understanding labor dynamics. McDonald explores the historical protest movements of rickshaw pullers in Japan and promotes a more inclusive approach to technology studies. Her insights advocate for a global perspective that highlights marginalized voices in the history of mobility and labor.
01:13:33
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Quick takeaways
- Kate McDonald's research emphasizes the importance of viewing Asian mobility history through the lens of labor, challenging conventional narratives focused solely on technological advancement.
- The persistent use of human-powered transport, such as rickshaws in Japan, highlights the need to reconsider the obsolescence of older technologies in modern transport discussions.
Deep dives
The Limitations of Naval Gazing in Scholarship
Scholarship often suffers from a focus on local contexts, particularly in wealthy nations like the United States, which can blind researchers to broader narratives. Many narratives about technology emphasize triumphalist stories of productivity and efficiency, which can overlook the persistence of older methods and technologies. For example, historians have shown that horse-drawn transport was prevalent in America long after the supposed transition to automobiles. This narrow lens limits the ability to see varied technological experiences across different cultures and economies, which is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of human interaction with technology.
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