Comment: Slum tourism turns poverty into entertainment

The following statement is found in Text 2, “Slumdog Tourism”: “Slum tourism turns poverty into entertainment” (ll. 20-21)

In this section of the study guide, we have outlined a few points for you to consider when commenting on this statement from the text.

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Entertainment value

To support his statement, Odede gives himself as an example. He was 16 years old and starving when he was photographed by a tourist:​ “Suddenly a white woman was taking my picture. I felt like a tiger in a cage. Before I could say anything, she had moved on.” (ll. 32-35)

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Lack of decency

Then, Odede talks about the way the most intimate actions can be seen as entertainment by people unused to the poor conditions in the slum:

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Not a helping hand in sight

Pain and poverty were transformed into entertainment for curious tourists in the case of the woman giving birth. Odede insists that it was of no use for both parts involved.

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