POV Season 19 Episode 12 Maquilapolis [city of factories]

Maquilapolis [city of factories] is the 12th episode of the 19th season of POV, a documentary television series that presents a range of perspectives on contemporary issues. This episode follows a group of women workers in Tijuana, Mexico, who are employed in the maquiladoras, the factories that produce goods for export to the United States and other markets. Through their stories, the episode explores the complex social and environmental impacts of globalization and the tensions between economic development and community well-being.

The episode begins with a portrait of Tijuana, a sprawling city that has grown rapidly in recent decades as a center of industrial production. We see the factories that line the highways, the construction sites where new developments are taking shape, and the neighborhoods where the workers live. Interspersed with these images are interviews with the women who work in the factories, who describe their daily lives, their concerns about the health and safety risks they face on the job, and their hopes for a better future.

The heart of the episode is the story of Carmen and Lourdes, two women who work at a maquiladora that produces electronic components. We see them as they commute to work on the bus, as they enter the factory gates, and as they begin their shifts at the assembly line. Through their eyes, we see the monotony and intensity of the work, and we hear their reflections on the ways in which their bodies have been shaped and transformed by their labor.

As the episode unfolds, we learn more about the social and environmental costs of the maquiladora industry. We hear from activists who are working to improve working conditions in the factories, to protect the health of the workers, and to build stronger communities in the face of rapid industrialization. We also see the ways in which the production of electronic components and other goods has created a range of environmental problems, from air and water pollution to the depletion of natural resources.

Despite these challenges, the women in Maquilapolis [city of factories] are not passive victims of globalization. We see them organizing, protesting, and demanding change. We see them connecting with other workers across the border in the United States, and we hear their visions for a more just and sustainable world. In the end, this episode is a testament to the resilience and dignity of the working poor, and to their ongoing struggle for recognition and justice in the face of powerful economic forces.