Sewing Machine, Smartphone, and the “I”: A Study of Media Use Among Garment Workers in the Context of Alienation

Abstract

Based on fieldwork in Guangzhou’s “Zhongda Textile Circle”, this study explores how garment workers navigate alienation through mediatized practices. Employing participant observation and in-depth interviews, it identifies a triple-alienation dilemma—survival, social, and ideological—driven by the dual control of assembly-line logic and digital platforms. The findings demonstrate that workers are not passive victims of structural oppression; instead, they exert agency through digital media to reclaim private time, reconstruct social networks (both kinship and weak ties), and foster reflexive self-development. While these micro-resistance practices are fragmented and localized, they serve as vital tools for reclaiming subjectivity and emotional energy. Ultimately, the research highlights the pivotal role of digital media in the interplay between alienation and resistance, confirming that marginalized laborers remain active, independent subjects despite the pervasive constraints of modern industry.