Chapter 20 (607-614)

In this second wave the European conquest was focused on Asia and Africa and it changed these societies. It was influenced by education and religion. Education was based on missionary schools. The means of being able to read and write held the status of knowledge which was stated to have some kind of magical powers. This power meant that they can get ahead in life by better pay and escape from colonial power. Education is important and holds true to society around us now. Education does allow the promise to a better future. So I guess it does hold some type of power in regards to getting ahead in life and we should be so thankful that we have that opportunity compared to those colonial days where it was not as easy to obtain. Religion transformed new identities and Christianity spread in places such as New Zealand, Pacific Islands, and non-Muslim. Christianity was associated with the modern education and in Africa they found new opportunities and freedom in the missions.

Thomas Massaro, Living Justice

In society today we are inflicted upon the rationalism of what we believe we deserve and what we hold true to right and wrong. We believe we deserve the best and demand respect from others, but yet can we truly say we do that upon others as well? It's a question that we all rationalize to ourselves. This segment of reading explains the dignity of every person and human right. What does this truly mean? Massaro thought to believe if Catholics followed certain guidelines there would be a balance of equality between different classes. It stated "all humans are made in the image and likeness of god," god is our creator, so we should as well be seen with high standards and be respected as we do with god, but in reality people do not follow this. People rationalize this to make them believe what they deserve, but yet there actions speak differently, it is in ones nature to be selfish. The church sees human equality very significant in the connection with god and how it reflects on how we treat one another. The importance to this is that no matter what god sees us all as equals. But we can't hold this completely true with the church for there are still major controversies on certain rights that churches disagree with making it a contradiction of what they say and the equality of human right.

Women And The Colonial Economy

The lives of African women were altered by colonial economies in many ways. Women had a lot of responsibilities aside from child care and household duties, they were almost equal to men in labor plus more. There was a lot of expectation for women and duties they needed to fulfill. This does not surprise me at all because till this day women still carry the amont of responsibility and roles that men do not give women credit for. It surprised me to read how women working hours increased from fourty six hours per week in pre colonial times to more than seventy hours per week by 1934. That's crazy! While men took advantage and profited off of cash crop agriculture they took no consideration to the women who helped make things work. Women took care of things at home and even took care of the men who worked in the cities and who earned low wages. This time in South Africa basically seperated married couple, men were in the cities while woman took care of life at home. Women learned how to get through these tough times and took certain opportunities in economic enterprising. Beyond the roles woman played during this time European and African men still tried to control woman, which is not a surprise because women till this day are still fighting for their equality.