Does Globalization Produce Greater Inequalities between the Sexes - Coursework Example

Does globalization produce greater inequalities between the sexes? Introduction There is a growing gap between the sexes under modern conditions ofglobalization. Very often social roles of men and women are blurred. Modern women do not want to be housekeepers anymore. They want to change their status, change their activities in order to become respected and valued members of business world. Now women have their own career aspirations and very often their husbands or sexual partners earn less money or have a lower social status than women. Moreover, the modern processes of globalization sharpen gender inequalities in terms of economic and social conditions. In the result of imbalanced gender biased social policies in the modern globalized world, drastic outcomes of health, society and social well-being may occur. Gender inequalities Gender equality is the trend of the modern world, which should be positioned as the highest social value. Nevertheless, very often there is a glass ceiling for women and they cannot move upwards the career ladder. On the one hand, the conditions of globalization provide women with an opportunity to remain a strong and reliable business partners, but on the other hand worn-out stereotypes are still relevant in the society, especially in societies of developing countries. In developing countries men still have a lot of privileges in the business world because they do not need to look after children. Many societies still consider this to be only women’s responsibility and men feel themselves free and self-confident. The same can be said about the work about the house. In developing countries women have less rights and less opportunities than men, especially because they are considered to be “housekeepers” and “housewives”. This stereotype has already been broken by for example US feminists and in the US society women are considered to be housewives any more. There is no need to marginalize social or economic roles of women. It is better to focus on their promotion and opening a wide horizon of opportunities in the globalized world. The current research project discusses the issues of inequalities between sexes under conditions of globalization processes. There are new avenues for development in the modern globalized world. Unfortunately, promotion of women living in poverty is a challenging question. There is a need to promote career advancement and open new opportunities for women at the governmental level. In other case a well-experienced strong group of professionals will be lost for the world’s society. Even in developed countries women are often deprived of governmental protection and many of rights they had before are given to men, for example the right to live with child after divorce. Receiving rights in business world women are deprived of their rights that are given to them by nature, so struggle between two sexes persists and is becoming sharper. Markets of different world position women in a different manner. In order to erase the existent borders between the worlds’ markets it is necessary to provide the women with an opportunity to leave in an equal society. Globalization sets new ways of social development and there is a need to reconsider old norms and social behavioral templates or any other stereotypes or moral samples. There is a need to develop more women-friendly markets. Moreover there is a need for a constant technological advancement for women in the world’s market. Information technologies are in the process of a rapid development and it is desirable to provide the developing nations with the same information opportunities, as other developed countries. Better-off women have greater opportunities for development than women living in poverty in the developing countries (Cornia, 2004). Social aspects of gender inequalities Inequalities between sexes are also sharpened. It is not always about finances. Very many different considerations and ideas of men and women have been changed and it is relevant to notice that inequalities are different because of a different global world outlook.   In terms of their gender roles both men and women reflect their different social vision, their thoughts and ideas, their responsibilities and many other factors, which are inconsistent in the modern world (Blaser, 2008). There is a need to reshape a way of thinking of different sexes. It is the only way to reach a harmonize relations at different levels for men and women in the world. On the one hand, gender inequalities are on the way of reconsideration and improvement, but very often women’s ability to advance in different spheres is halted by men, who do not want to share their privileges. It was very suitable for them to feel free and self-confident in comparison to women who always had to be dependants. Initially, the core of discord can be found in the absence of gender concerns in the “Human Factor” involved in productivity levels. Only after 70s gender inequalities were high on the agenda, because women’s role in production of different goods has enabled them to fight for their rights. They became an economically valuable unit and there was a need to advance their social position (Naples and Desai, 2002). Nevertheless, under conditions of globalization women are contributing greatly to economic development, but very often their contribution is not valued to the fullest extent. Women are involved in both formal and informal sectors of economy of different countries. They contribute much to creation of a social cohesion. In case women do not get fair payments, their performance at work would be decreased and it would be necessary to promote their social work and support at different levels. In the beginning of 21st century numerous programs were focused on creation and introduction of “equity-based” programs. The main attention of researchers and scientists was directed on market concerns and new opportunities for men and women in the globalized world. Very often, especially in the developing countries, a great split and essential inequalities basing on economic factors could be found. There is an essential gender bias in macroeconomic context. Market-oriented firms were focused on production and investment and women were often neglected as a powerful strategic means of enrichment. A lack of a proper consideration of a professional experience of women resulted in a lack of care about women internationally. Moreover, there are the following areas, where women want to be paid as well. They are contributing much into household duties and this work always remains unpaid. For example, very often they produce food, clothing or pottery and these indicators are not included in GDP. They take care after housekeeping and this care is not taken into account in GDP as well. These factors are not present in GDP, but these factors are the most valuable for a proper social performance of different workers. A great deal of performance depends on home comfort and women are not only performing themselves, but they also provide their family members, friends and relatives with an opportunity of a perfect job performance. With the help of their hands a favorable and a friendly atmosphere is created and it is much easier to work under favorable work conditions. Moreover, women are often involved in community work. They are taking care about their neighborhood or community or help to the church. A social constitution of women’s involvement in voluntary public work prevents men from participation in this kind of activity. Therefore, much depends on a voluntary involvement of women in social works. In the modern context of globalization a role of women in informal sector of economy should be taken into account for sure. Different activities, performed by women in both of these sectors are very important for the US economy, as well as for the economies of different countries around the world. We can claim that women take the greatest burden of different activities and they are very much responsible for keeping the economy working. Economic implications of gender inequalities In accordance with the modern researches and studies, there is an essential income gap among people of the globalized world. That is why it is desirable to focus not only on social implications of sexual inequalities, but also on economic factors. Those, who own large capital, are men, as a rule. Therefore women are initially prevented from being attracted to the first rows of rich people. On the one hand, a social role of a woman as a wife enables her closeness to money of her husband, but on the other hand, this is not her money and not her own social position. Such drastic consequences of gender inequalities in terms of globalization as “economic stagnation and unemployment which are, in turn, related to increased rates of mental illness, suicide, homicide, divorce, heart attack deaths, stroke deaths, cirrhosis of the liver deaths, aggression and so on” are discussed by the modern sociologists (Stevenson, 1997; Clammer, 2005). Therefore, there is a need to bridge a gap among sexes as soon as possible and make the relations between sexes more tolerant and patient. There are also many other implications, such as divorces, a slow formation of a family, high levels of mortality etc. It is important to set the limits to the following tendency as well: when rich people become richer and poor people are getting to prisons. Black males and Black women are very often imprisoned. At this point not only gender inequalities play a decisive role, but also racial bias. There is a need to restructure a centennial way of being in the society. The gap between developed and developing countries is increasing as well and gender inequalities are acutely experienced nowadays as never before. For example, gender inequalities in developing world are sharpened by intrusion of foreign investments. The pace of globalization led to an increased gender inequalities in the world, which are evident between nations and within nations of different countries (Kennedy and Danks, 2001). In accordance with the research devoted to gender inequalities in South Korea (Koo, 2007) it is claimed that “the neo-liberal trend of industrial restructuring has rendered peoples work situations increasingly unstable and insecure while widening the gaps between the winners and losers in the competitive economy” (Koo 2007, p. 2). People are scared off by instability of their jobs and there is a downward motion among white-collar workers. Consumption as a prevalent factor determining social status has been chosen by the government. It is also claimed that a great amount of foreign luxury goods exert influence on the nations and the members of the society want to consume this luxury (Zuberi, 2006). This trend is relevant both to males and females. Cars and jewelry, real estate and elite cosmetics are desirable for males and females in the modern globalized world. Therefore, the quality of life of upper-middle class is essentially increased in South Korea. The same tendency can be found within other nations. Conclusion The inequalities between sexes are sharpened in terms of globalization. This gap is widened because of available luxury goods, technological advancement and many other aspects. Nevertheless, both at macroeconomic level and at social level the members of the society experience a widening gender inequality gap. There is a need for cooperation between the countries of developed and developing worlds, as well as a proper consideration of professional qualities of both males and females. The role of a woman in the modern globalized worlds should not be underestimated, but positioned at the new horizon of wide opportunities of the modernity. In the developing world there is a need to introduce technological innovations and suggest opportunities for career advancement for women. The developed world should be focused on conglomeration with experienced professionals from the countries of the Third World in order to work in the name of a global welfare. Blurring different limits globalization sets new principles: there is no importance whether a man or a woman is a talented and an important worker, it is much more important whether this worker is important. There is no need to oppress a great performance potential of women both in formal economic and informal economic terms. A woman is a great spiritual, aspiring and inspiring creature whose professional performance and housekeeping care create favorable conditions for social fabric. References Blaser, Kent. 2008. "Hytrek, Gary, and Kristine M. Zentgraf. America Transformed: Globalization, Inequality, and Power." International Social Science Review83:202+. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5034917497). Clammer, John. 2005. "Globalization, Culture and Inequality in Asia." Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 11:154+. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009119334). Cornia, Giovanni Andrea, ed. 2004. Inequality, Growth, and Poverty in an Era of Liberalization and Globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=110210137). Kennedy, Paul and Catherine J. Danks, eds. 2001. Globalization and National Identities : Crisis or Opportunity? /. New York: Palgrave. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102319220). Koo, Hagen. 2007. "The Changing Faces of Inequality in South Korea in the Age of Globalization." Korean Studies 31:1+. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5026149897). Naples, Nancy A. and Manisha Desai, eds. 2002. Womens Activism and Globalization: Linking Local Struggles and Transnational Politics. New York: Routledge. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=102736925). Stevenson, Paul. 1997. "Globalization and Inequality: the Negative Consequences for Humanity." Journal of Political and Military Sociology 25:373+. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5035364386). Zuberi, Dan. 2006. "Understanding Social Inequality: Intersections of Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in Canada." American Review of Canadian Studies 36:194+. Retrieved January 11, 2012 (http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5016986154). Read More