Chapter 11 Summary

Conditions at the silk factory were worse following the monsoons. The environment produced cocoons of poor quality and the silk industry lost revenues. One way of making up the difference was to require longer working hours from the employees. The girls had reveled in the freedom that accompanied their working status, but it now made them feel enslaved. Chung and his managers enforced the long hours, and the girls didn't complain except among themselves. The girls were constantly weak from being overworked. The conditions culminated in the sudden death of a young girl. Along with her unnecessary death came the courage to disobey Chung. The employees began having secret meetings to discuss their working conditions and brainstorm options for change. The meetings consisted of workers from all the local factories, and when written down, the list of their complaints was two pages long...