Home decor, pillows, jewelry, stationary, etc., etc. Myself alongside many others have bought countless items off of Etsy. But, how many people actually know what goes on in the business?
The article "Meet the Unseen Workforce That Stitches Etsy Together" by Brian Merchant gives an inside look on Etsy. I would categorize this text as a journalistic report or editorial. It gives lots of information about Etsy, but is also persuasive in the way it describes the business. I once read an article that reminds me of this one about the impacts of fast fashion.
I get very persuasive feelings from this article. It feels as if Merchant wants to provide information about Etsy, but also open our eyes to how corrupt Etsy is in its treatment of their workers. I think that I am a part of the audience for this text because I have shopped on Etsy many, many times in the past, but I never really thought much about it. I never thought about the people behind the screen who were making the items I was buying. I think this article would bring in people who shop on Etsy, are open to learning more about Etsy, and learning about the business's struggles. I think it keeps out people who have not heard of Etsy, or people who do not care about the unfair treatment of the workers. I think the purpose of this text is to show consumers how corrupt the businesses they shop at can be and to advocate for the workers who are being manipulated and taken advantage of. I think what could have prompted this article was Samantha Close's curiosity about how computers and technology have affected business for crafters. The main speaker of this text is Close, but Brian Merchant, the author, produced the article to highlight her documentary. This text is about highlighting the workers of Etsy, as well as the struggles the face working for the company. I think a really important message that emerges from this text, or something we as a society should definitely start thinking about more is how technology and computers have affected (and are currently affecting) small business owners, artists, crafters, and many others.
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