Erin Brockovich Movie Questions & Reflections
Personal struggle
1. The struggles that Erin Brockovich had with balancing her family and her job are: focusing on the case of PG&E, being a single mother who had to take of her three children, deal with her boyfriend who she doesn't trust because of the past relationships she had, and trying to earn enough money for a living.
2. I think a man would not be likely to have the same problems because in the past women were not treated equally as men. So they both had different jobs. A man would have more jobs than a woman because of a stereotype that men are better than women. A woman would be seen weak compared to a man so their reputation would risk their job.
Professionalism
3. Erin Brockovich did not show professionalism in her job only because she cared for the people of Hinkley. During the case of PG&E, Erin was a serious and dedicated woman. She knew that she wasn't professional but only because no one took her seriously.
4. The image she projected was being a hard working woman who never gives up. She was often rude but only because she wanted to show people how confident she was and that she could do more than what people see of her. She cares about her work and others.
5. As a woman, this image made it difficult for her. Unlike others, she took her job very seriously. Not only that, she has a short temper and got fired because she was focusing on the PG&E case. Ed Masry thought she was skipping work because of her reputation acting like a "girl" even though she was working really on the case.
Social Responsibility
6. The substance that was making people sick was Chromium-6.
7. The substance contaminated the water reserves in PG&E plants that supply all their water to the town of Hinkley.
8. The company that was responsible was PG&E, an investor-owned electric utility.
9. Erin's motivation for pursuing this issue was to save the family of the Jensens. They were the reason why she found the case and also reminded her how much she loves her own family and will work hard if anything harms them.
10. Symptoms of Chromium-6 can cause asthma, chronic bronchitis, tumors, cancer and much more.
Small Business Owner
11. The risks that Ed Masry took as a small business owner was facing a multi-billionaire company. He took the risk of losing his firm and his job. As a small business owner battling with a company this huge was a large feat for Ed Masry and his team.
12. Ed Masry took the risk by hiring Erin because he knew she was short tempered but also has a lot more initiative than he has, that could also risk his job. Ed only took pity on Erin because she was only a single mother who has trying to care for her three kids. Her large ambitions differ from Ed's and he usually disagrees with her actions usually because she doesn't know much. But her initiative and care forces Ed to take more risks.
Corporate Decisions
13. PG&E continued to lie to the residents of Hinkley about the water conditions because they didn't want anyone to know that it was their fault. It would destroy their business and their reputation.
14. PG&E should have at first, try to resolve the problem so that no one would have known about the water conditions or tell everyone in the begin, that their water wasn't safe. Compared to the large lawsuit that they faced at the end, telling the people at the beginning would have saved them a huge amount of money.
15. It is sometimes harder to make the right (ethically correct) decisions than the wrong (unethical) decisions because you don't want to be blamed for your decisions or admit your faults. But this is normal for us, as we try to avoid our own faults. But as always is morally wrong.
16. In order for governments to prevent companies from making unethical decisions, they should enforce more strict rules, and teach companies the outcome of any unethical decisions, that their company would be totally ruined if something happens to go wrong especially for large companies.
17. The consequence for any unethical decisions or companies should be a penalty to restrict from doing anything else. That will also affect their reputation as a company. The company should be forced to improve their ethically standards so that any unethical decisions are to be avoided.
Personal Reflection/Essential Questions & Connections
12. Ed Masry took the risk by hiring Erin because he knew she was short tempered but also has a lot more initiative than he has, that could also risk his job. Ed only took pity on Erin because she was only a single mother who has trying to care for her three kids. Her large ambitions differ from Ed's and he usually disagrees with her actions usually because she doesn't know much. But her initiative and care forces Ed to take more risks.
Corporate Decisions
13. PG&E continued to lie to the residents of Hinkley about the water conditions because they didn't want anyone to know that it was their fault. It would destroy their business and their reputation.
14. PG&E should have at first, try to resolve the problem so that no one would have known about the water conditions or tell everyone in the begin, that their water wasn't safe. Compared to the large lawsuit that they faced at the end, telling the people at the beginning would have saved them a huge amount of money.
15. It is sometimes harder to make the right (ethically correct) decisions than the wrong (unethical) decisions because you don't want to be blamed for your decisions or admit your faults. But this is normal for us, as we try to avoid our own faults. But as always is morally wrong.
16. In order for governments to prevent companies from making unethical decisions, they should enforce more strict rules, and teach companies the outcome of any unethical decisions, that their company would be totally ruined if something happens to go wrong especially for large companies.
17. The consequence for any unethical decisions or companies should be a penalty to restrict from doing anything else. That will also affect their reputation as a company. The company should be forced to improve their ethically standards so that any unethical decisions are to be avoided.
Personal Reflection/Essential Questions & Connections
18. During an ethically tough decision I look through my options on what I can actually do whether it would benefit me or not. As always I try to find the best decision for me and others. They always have to morally correct to benefit everyone.
19. Suggestions for others who will face tough ethical decisions is to check whether or not you're doing the right thing. Apart from you, others should feel that your decisions are the right thing to do. Whatever you do may affect others too and you need to consider that. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone else but at least hinders you, then you may be on the right track. Always think if it's the right thing to do for others, as you can always help yourself later on.
20. Businesses should demonstrate corporate responsibility because it will improve the work ethics of the company. More ethically decisions will be made and improve the reputation of the company. Better positive working will improve employee working habits and social responsibility in the company.
21. The decisions that you make always impact others because of the effects of your decisions. If you decide to keep a secret from others then it will always negatively affect that person. Even the most simple decisions will affect somebody else. For example, if you plan to keep someone's pencil from them, then they may end up needing the pencil. It's the ethical decisions that will help you benefit others. Just think whether or not if it's the right thing to do.
19. Suggestions for others who will face tough ethical decisions is to check whether or not you're doing the right thing. Apart from you, others should feel that your decisions are the right thing to do. Whatever you do may affect others too and you need to consider that. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone else but at least hinders you, then you may be on the right track. Always think if it's the right thing to do for others, as you can always help yourself later on.
20. Businesses should demonstrate corporate responsibility because it will improve the work ethics of the company. More ethically decisions will be made and improve the reputation of the company. Better positive working will improve employee working habits and social responsibility in the company.
21. The decisions that you make always impact others because of the effects of your decisions. If you decide to keep a secret from others then it will always negatively affect that person. Even the most simple decisions will affect somebody else. For example, if you plan to keep someone's pencil from them, then they may end up needing the pencil. It's the ethical decisions that will help you benefit others. Just think whether or not if it's the right thing to do.
