GLOBALIZATION AND WOMEN

ASB 211 Spring 2015

GLOBALIZATION

Direct and indirect sharing of technology, ideas, behaviors, labor, services, and material goods across and between different peoples around the world.

WOMEN ARE A GLOBALLY TRADED COMMODITY.Labor forceExploitation/human traffickingDiscrimination: racism, classism, sexism

A NEW LABOR FORCE

Women are now recruited into industrial/factory positions

Unskilled Labor:

1. low wages, long hours

2. no benefits

3. unable to ask for worker’s rights

4. workers forced to “rent” their own equipment (IS THIS SLAVERY?)

FACTORY DAUGHTERS

50% of factory workers in Mexico are women.

70-90% of factory workers in Southern Asia are women.

Women in industrial jobs:Called a “secondary labor force”Usually single, unmarried or single mothersExperience extensive health problemsNo job securityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0jG8jJCMfU

EXPLOITATION/HUMAN TRAFFICKING Human trafficking:3rd largest illegal industry in the world, generating $32 billion annually20.9 million people in forced labor between 2002-2011Sex trafficking: 2-4 million women & girls annuallyPush/pull factorsGovernments and States benefit from human trafficking!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5u2IUF8JUw

LABOR AND TRAFFICKING ARE CONNECTED Poor labor conditions increases human trafficking

1. unemployment

2. misleading opportunities

3. women as payments for debts

Poor immigration laws and policies increase human trafficking

1. deportation to violent border cities

2. deportees separated from families

3. expensive legal immigration leads to dangerous human smuggling

DISCRIMINATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY Sexism

Women recruited into unskilled labor or domestic work are seen around the world as unequal to men, directly or indirectly.Secondary labor forceLower wagesAbusePrejudice

DISCRIMINATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY Racism

Continued racism around the world means that some women are subject to even more prejudice, aggression, and violence.

DISCRIMINATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Classism

Women from high status and wealthy families have:

Better health

Better conditions of living

Better jobs (or do not have to work)

Less regulation over their bodies

Higher education and literacy rates

Healthier children