Globalization and Feminism Issues - Essay Example

? Globalization and Feminism Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Discussion: globalization and feminism 3 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction The process of globalization and opening up of market economies all over the world have laid the platform for increase in industrialization and emergence of diverse workforce. The representation of the workforce increased in order to meet the capacities of labour force required for the increased volume of economic activities. The participation of women increased the total factor productivity. The phenomenon of globalization led to the change in the nature of the workforce and also a change in the proportion of gender representation. The effects of globalization on the theories of feminism establish the relationship between the capital and gender, exploitation of the women workforce. Feminism has played a significant role in the process of globalization and economic progress all over the world. From the perspective of feminism, the phenomenon of globalization has led to the discrimination of gender in terms of control over capital and resources (Hawkesworth, 2006, p.37). The male sections of the society has dominated and gained control over the majority of resources, opportunities of livelihood and employment. There are, however, instances where the women have been able to grab the opportunities in the course of economic progress, a major section of the women labour force have lost control over their work in the process of globalization. Women have obtained job opportunities in the skilled areas of Information Technology, Computer software, etc, the semi and unskilled women labours, agricultural workers have lost their occupation to the forces of globalization. Discussion: globalization and feminism The theories of feminism are based primarily on two basic assumptions. The assumptions are that the women have always been dominated by the male section of the society and that there is a persistent situation of gender inequality in the society. The theories on feminism state that women should have equal rights of education and livelihood. It would be true to state that women have never received equal treatment as men in the various activities in the context of family, society, politics, etc. The women have been discriminated on the basis of age, sexual preference, ideology, etc. On one side, when the increase in participation of women in the labour force have created job opportunities and provided a means of livelihood and independence to women, the women on the other hand has also been subjected to discrimination and humiliation. The women in the Middle-East are hired as working maids for the families in order to support the homemakers of the family. Thus the engagement of a woman labour for the help of another woman is an act of exploitation (Sarkar, 2007, p.5). The rise in the income level of the families due to the phenomenon of globalization has provided jobs to the women section of the society and at the same time increased their possibility of exploitation apart from providing them economic freedom. Globalization has produced new discourse in various field of occupation. The involvement of several sections of the society has produced new instances in the field of politics. The feminists believe that the phenomenon of globalization has not been able to produce a condition of equality among the men and the women. There have been various landmark initiatives in the political course of action like the increase in the number of women representatives in the parliament, activities for ensuring women rights, education and livelihood for women, etc. Although the economic and political scenario has changed in the process of globalization, the exploitation and the discrimination towards women have not changed to a great deal (Beneria, 2003, p.47). The process of globalization is challenged by the various political and social resistances. The cultural and religious roots of the society could not easily be transformed and the spread of economic activities as globalization had to pass through these barriers. Despite encouragement to women for taking up job opportunities, various social taboos have held them back in the path of progress. The economic activities in the world of globalization are carried out by the capitalist forces. The market forces are driven by profit motives. The productivity of the means of the production is thus considered to be very important in the economic development (Moghadam, 2005, p.58). There are certain jobs which demand the characteristics of a woman like the information technology and the human resource specializations. The women section of the society is treated equally in such profiles. But the overall scenario in the process of globalization is slightly different for the women. The semi-skilled and the unskilled women labour are deprived of equal treatment in the area of work. The access to capital and resources are not allowed to the women where they face humiliation and discrimination. There are new sites of political action on account of feminism in the age of globalization. The ministry of labour in different countries have set up laws to ensure that women are treated on equal grounds by the employers. The aspect of wage discrimination for the women has also been addressed by the governments (Appelbaum and Robinson, 2005, p.28). The policies of ensuring equal wages for all genders of the workforce have been implemented. The aspect of workplace security for the women is an important legislation that has come up in the process of globalization. Women have also been provided protection against sexual harassment and abuse. These are initiatives and action taken by the policymakers who have been actively involved in the field of politics and carry the responsibility of acting for the welfare of the all sections of the society (Moghadam, 2012, p.81). The new sites of political action are aimed at providing equal opportunities and treatment to women at workplace. The political actions also aimed at providing equal rights to women in all fields of life education, occupation, livelihood, etc. The phenomenon of globalization has been influenced by the policies and regulations set up in the host countries in order to encourage foreign investments. This has exposed the domestic industry to foreign competition and the local workforce has been subject to discrimination. The local workforce has to face the discrimination of the wages and the conditions are even for women who are either semi-skilled or unskilled. The feminists view this instance as an act of oppression where the women workforce is not provided equal rights and compensation for their work. The women are also deprived of employee benefits like the maternity benefits, childcare benefits, etc. There have also been indirect effects on feminism for the political actions and the laws of the government on the process of promoting the phenomenon of globalization. The policies on free trade of commodities have led to the inflow of huge inflow of foreign commodities to the local markets (Hawthorne, 2002, p.32). These commodities are cheaper and of higher quality as compared to the commodities of the local markets. The industries related to the commodities like handloom, weavings, etc would loose job opportunities for the workers due to loss of demand against the foreign commodities. These industries like the handloom and weaving employ a majority of women workers who have the expertise for this type of work. These women workers would be deprived of their job opportunities and would loose their daily wages due to the job cuts. Thus the process of globalization has dried up the existing opportunities of women in specialized fields which have been replaced by the advanced technologies. The feminists criticize the role of patriarchal society and the global capitalism structure in the economy. The theory of feminism suggests that the patriarchal society and the capitalists have dominated the women sections of the society which led to unequal distribution of resources. However, upsurge of a section of the women in the developing countries have changed the overall economic scenario. The rise of economic statues of women has led to transformation in the social gender relations and has developed new patterns and arrangements in the family. The theories of feminism find some light in the upsurge of women in the process of globalization. The rise of women in the hierarchy of employment, engagement in the entrepreneurship activities and the rise in income level led the path of equality. This changed the position of women in the different spheres of life starting from the family to the large section of the society. Women started to receive education in the best schools and colleges of the society along side their male counterparts. The representation of women in the higher education also increased subsequently and specialized trainings were also received by a large section of the women in the society. Thus in all the spheres of life, women reached a position of equality where they could compete with their male counterparts (Ferree, 2006, p.78). The women who have been successful in the process of economic progress have been able to earn fame and respect for themselves. The social respects for the women also increased and there were instances of decline in discrimination or exploitation. The dominance of the patriarchal form of the society started to come down with the consideration of power of the women population. Apart from the increase in acceptance in the society, the women also gained high positions in their families. There were new patterns in the family arrangements due to the advent of women in the process of globalization. This is again supported by the feminists who are advocates for the cause of equality and rise if women from their position of subordination in the family structure and in the large social structure. The acceptance of child daughter, decrease in mortality rates are key indicators that show the rise of feminism in the process of globalization. The education of male and female children gained equal importance for the parents (Mooney and Evans, 2007, p.53). This does not imply that the society was free from discrimination. The society was dominated by the patriarchal form and there were ample cases of discrimination and exploitation of women. However, there were signs of improvement in the scenario or economic freedom and independence of women in terms of attaining equal grounds as compared to the males. The new patterns that emerged in the structure of the families saw females rising to the position of the main earning member of the family. The females came out of their household jobs and started to take part in occupational activities. The women started to manage the family and took control of the sources and means of finance for the family. The rise in the income level changed the lifestyle, food habits and culture of the families. The women started to get inclined towards the features of westernization and commoditization which was the demand of the process of globalization (Chong, 2008, p.62). The process of globalization created a healthy platform for feminism to flourish and for the women to rise and claim equal grounds with their male counterpart in the family and the society. Conclusion In traditional society and culture, women have always been dominated by their male counterparts. The capital and resources have always been unequally distributed and women have been discriminated from receiving benefits and also exploited for selfish patriarchal interests. This has led to the concept of feminism that advocates equal rights for women in the society in terms of attaining education and any other benefits that are available to the common masses. The process of globalization has opened the gates for the women where the women have been encouraged to participate in the process of production. While this has provided job opportunities to a section of women population, a large section of the semi-skilled and unskilled local women workers have faced job cuts. Women have, however, attained high positions in the field of information technology, human resources, etc. The rise in the income level of the women has developed new patterns in the families and the society. However, the process of globalization has been a double edged sword. On one hand, it promoted the causes of feminism but on the other hand women have been subject to the onslaught of the capitalists who are the drivers of the process of globalization. There have been several instances of workplace discrimination, wage discrimination and exploitation during the spread of economic activities in the process of globalization. References Sarkar, S. 2007. Globalization and Women at Work: A Feminist Discourse. [Pdf]. Available at: http://www.feministagenda.org.au/IFS%20Papers/Sumita2.pdf. [Accessed on 30 July, 2013]. Hawkesworth, M. E. 2006. Globalization And Feminist Activism. Rowman & Littlefield; USA. Moghadam, V. M. 2005. Globalizing Women: Transnational Feminist Networks. JHU Press; USA. Moghadam, V. M. 2012. Globalization and Social Movements: Islamism, Feminism, and the Global Justice Movement. Rowman & Littlefield; UK. Hawthorne, S. 2002. Wild Politics: Feminism, Globalisation and Bio-diversity. Spinifex Press; Australia. Ferree, M. 2006. Global Feminism: Transnational Women's Activism, Organizing, and Human Rights. NYU Press; USA. Chong, T. 2008. Globalization and Its Counter-Forces in Southeast Asia. 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