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Boomerang Human Rights ViolationsPosted on January 6, 2010byFilip Spagnoli

(source)

We usually see human rights violations arezero-sum: a rights violation is a harm

inflicted by one person on another, for the benefit of the former. I mentioned

before that this isnt always the correct way of viewing rights violations, but its

adequate in most cases. One case in which its only superficially adequate is what

I would call theboomerang human rights violation: you think that violating

someones rights may produce some benefit for you, and it does so initially, but

the actual and final results mean that you become worse off.

Theres the obvious and uninteresting example of the dictator using extreme

oppression and causing revolt, but here are some other, more intriguing

examples. The first one has to do with the right to work.

Gene Marks is a small business owner (he sells customer relationship

management tools), who is attempting to speak to other small business owners,

all of whom, presumably, are also delighted that the potential hiring pool is so

chock full of talent desperate to be exploited right now.

But one wonders who exactly is supposed to purchase all those products and

services from the small businesses of the world, if unemployment creeps up to

the 10 percent mark or higher? High unemployment means low consumer

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demand. Which usually means small businesses end up going out of business, or

at the very least, laying off more employees, who push the unemployment rate

even higher. And so on. (source)

If, as a capitalist (i.e. employer), you want to take advantage of unemployment

or the risk of unemployment to put downward pressure on wages and

workers benefits and thereby violate workers rights (a fair wage is a human

right, as are favorable working conditions) youll end up shooting yourself in

the foot because neither hard working laborers who dont earn a lot nor the

unemployed will consume many of your products or services. I can see the appeal

of the statement that generous unemployment benefits discourage people from

finding a job, but such benefits do have advantages that go beyond the mere self-

interest of the direct beneficiaries.

An ideal policy would allow people to collect unemployment insurance

indefinitely, and let the unemployed borrow or save money. This way,

unemployment insurance would not merely be a financial band-aid lettingpeople take risks on the job market and endure some jobless spells, but a critical

source of liquidity, allowing the unemployed to keep spending reasonable

amounts of money which in turn helps create demand, something sorely

lacking from the economy at the moment. (source)

http://mobile.salon.com/tech/htww/2009/09/29/the_bright_side_of_high_unemployment/index.htmlhttp://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/which-human-rights-do-we-have/http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/which-human-rights-do-we-have/http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/human-rights-facts-146-unemployment-benefits-in-the-u-s-and-elsewhere/http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/3q-unemployment-0105.htmlhttp://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=unemployed&iid=7431526http://mobile.salon.com/tech/htww/2009/09/29/the_bright_side_of_high_unemployment/index.htmlhttp://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/which-human-rights-do-we-have/http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/which-human-rights-do-we-have/http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/human-rights-facts-146-unemployment-benefits-in-the-u-s-and-elsewhere/http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/3q-unemployment-0105.html

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And heres another example, related to gender

discrimination. In many countries, theres a son preference: male offspring is

considered more valuable than female offspring, for reasons to do with genderdiscrimination and social, cultural or religious views regarding the proper role of

women in society. One of the consequences is the missing girls phenomenon.

The sex ratios in many countries India and China stand out - are out of balance.

Some estimates say that 90 million women are missing worldwide. In

somewhat overwrought rhetoric this is called gendercide.* Girls are often aborted

in selective abortions (aone child policycan make this even more

widespread), and young girls are often prejudiced against when it comes to

nutrition and health care resulting in higher mortality rates.

The son preference and the missing girls phenomenon have their roots mainly in

cultural beliefs, but economic considerations also play a role. Some professions

are open only to men; girls marry into other families and hence cant continue

the family business; theres the dowry problem etc. However, these economic

considerations dont stand on their own and are often the result of discriminatory

cultural beliefs.

When we accept that gender discrimination and the will to sustain patriarchy isthe cause of the son preference and the missing girls phenomenon, then we are

dealing with a human rights violation. And also this rights violation can come

back to haunt those responsible for it.

A societal preference for boys here has become an unlikely source of power for

Indian women. The abortion of female fetuses in favor of sons an illegal but

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widespread practice means there are more eligible bachelors than potential

brides, allowing women and their parents to be more selective when arranging

a match. (source)

Rather than cementing patriarchy, the son preference and the

resulting unbalanced sex ratios give women more bargaining power.

These and other boomerang rights violations are variants of what Ive calledself-

inflicted rights violations: people violate other peoples rights, and in so doing

they ultimately violate their own rights. I guess I msut be attracted to self-

destructive and self-defeating behavior.

* The word is overwrought in my view because, contrary to genocide, theres no

centralized plan to exterminate women.

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