14.1 Impact of globalization on gender relations

Globalization reshapes gender dynamics worldwide, altering labor markets and challenging traditional roles. Women's increased participation in paid work expands economic independence but also reveals persistent inequalities in wages, job security, and career advancement.

The global economy relies heavily on female labor, often in precarious conditions. Transnational migration for domestic and care work creates new opportunities but also exposes women to exploitation. Meanwhile, uneven resource distribution and technology access perpetuate gender gaps in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

Economic and Social Impact of Globalization on Gender

Economic globalization and gender dynamics

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  Globalization and Labor Markets in the Developing World: Gendered Dynamics View original

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  Globalization and Labor Markets in the Developing World: Gendered Dynamics View original

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  Globalization and Labor Markets in the Developing World: Gendered Dynamics View original

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  Globalization and Labor Markets in the Developing World: Gendered Dynamics View original

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• Changing labor markets and employment opportunities
  • Shift from agriculture to manufacturing (textiles, electronics) and service sectors (tourism, call centers)
  • Increased participation of women in paid labor force expands their economic independence
• Transformation of traditional gender roles
  • Women as breadwinners challenging male authority within households and communities
  • Dual-earner households leading to renegotiation of domestic responsibilities like childcare and housework
• Persistent gender inequalities
  • Occupational segregation concentrates women in lower-paying, less secure jobs (garment factories, domestic work)
  • Gender wage gaps where women earn less than men for comparable work limit economic advancement
  • Limited access to higher-paying jobs in management and decision-making positions maintains glass ceilings
• Intersection with other social hierarchies
  • Class, race, and ethnicity shaping women's experiences of globalization (migrant workers, indigenous women)
  • Differential impact on women from the Global North who may benefit more than those in the Global South

Gendered dimensions of global labor

• Feminization of labor
  • Increased demand for female workers in export-oriented industries (electronics assembly, call centers)
  • Women as preferred labor force due to perceived docility, dexterity, and acceptance of lower wages
• Precarious and exploitative working conditions
  • Informal sector employment lacking job security, benefits, and labor protections (street vending, home-based work)
  • Exposure to health hazards (toxic chemicals) and sexual harassment in the workplace
• Transnational labor migration
  • Feminization of domestic work and care work as women migrate to fill labor shortages (nannies, elder care)
  • Vulnerability to abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking by recruiters and employers
• Reproductive labor and global care chains
  • Outsourcing of childcare and eldercare to migrant women from developing countries
  • Emotional and social costs for families in sending countries with absent mothers and wives

Globalization's impact on women's resources

• Uneven distribution of resources
  • Privatization and commodification of essential services like water and healthcare reduces access
  • Reduced public spending on education and healthcare disproportionately affects women and girls
• Gendered barriers to education
  • Prioritization of male education in resource-constrained households limits girls' schooling
  • Child marriage and early childbearing disrupt girls' educational attainment
• Inadequate healthcare services
  • Lack of affordable and quality reproductive healthcare services (contraception, maternal care)
  • Increased exposure to health risks in globalized industries (repetitive strain injuries, respiratory problems)
• Microcredit and financial inclusion
  • Expansion of credit access for women entrepreneurs through microfinance programs (Grameen Bank)
  • Limitations in terms of small loan amounts and questionable long-term economic empowerment

Technology's role in global gender norms

• Digital divide and unequal access
  • Gendered disparities in access to technology and internet connectivity (computers, smartphones)
  • Limited opportunities for women to acquire digital skills and literacy widens economic gaps
• Representation and stereotyping in media
  • Perpetuation of traditional gender roles and beauty standards in advertising and entertainment
  • Objectification and sexualization of women's bodies reinforces harmful gender norms
• Online gender-based violence
  • Cyberbullying, harassment, and non-consensual image sharing targets and shames women
  • Silencing effect on women's online participation, self-expression and networking
• Feminist activism and digital solidarity
  • Use of social media for transnational mobilization and advocacy (hashtag campaigns, online petitions)
  • Creation of alternative narratives and counter-hegemonic discourses to resist patriarchal globalization