Globalization of Production and Women in Asia
DONG-SOOK S. GILLS
2015.10.14Burenjargal.BGlobal Asia FeminismSungKongHoe University
https://globalisms.wordpress.com/globalization-and-women/
Dr Dong-Sook Gills Senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Sunderland, UK An affiliate faculty member of the Globalization Research Centre, University of Hawaii An International Advisory Council member of TODA Institute
for Peace and Policy Research Some publications and research reports
Women and Work in Globalizing Asia Rural Women and Triple Exploitation in Korean
Development Globalization and Strategic Choice in South Korea
ContentI. Globalization: Structure and AgencyII. Global Production and Women in AsiaIII.Alternative Globalization:
Democratic Social Inclusion and Women’s RightsIV.Comments and Questions
I. Globalization: Structure and Agency
Globalization of production represents new organization of production process Labor relations are being altered: flexibilization and feminization of labor Capitial > Labor Balance between emphasis on structure and people:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAMqmlwNPWQ
Economic
Financial
Cultural
Political
Separate yet closely tied together
Capitalism (19-20th century)-> Economic Globalization
-> Globalization (21st century)
Capitalism = Capital accumulation
No postmodern global world and no logic of postcapitalism
Women labor and globalization: a. Women as victims of the
economic processb. Potential for women as
subjects pf the process
I. Globalization: Structure and Agency
II. Global Production and Women in Asia
Wealth concentration > Wealth redistribution Women’s labor plays crucial role in Asia’s economies Women are direct source of cheap labor especially in export manufacturing industries Transnational companies are main agents that facilitate the globalization of production
80% of foreign direct investment (FDI)850 Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in developing countries with 27 million workforce
Employment in EPZs
Female 70%
Male 30 %
National Employment
Female 30-40%
Male 60-70 %
85-90%
are at lowes
t level jobs
By Steve Cuttshttp://www.stevecutts.com/
II. Global Production and Women in Asia
Race-to-the-bottom syndrome Feminization of labor in Asia ≠ Feminization of labor in core countries
1. Non capitalist sphere of production - Rural subsistence farming households
2. Manufacturing and agricultural sectors
FDI -> Prosperity and New jobs particularly for women
Competition to attract FDI -> Labor exploitation via lower wage, longer working hours and little job security
Reality: Conventional wisdom:
II. Global Production and Women in Asia
Two layers of noncapitalist labor:
Nonwage rural female labor
Domestic labor
Women’s work, both paid and unpaid significantly contribute to maintain the low cost of industrial and capitalist production. http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2012/2/cartoons-for-change-in-
the-new-delhi-metro
II. Global Production and Women in Asia
Quality of labor conditions Flexibilization of labor
-> Women out of core workforce Neoliberal ideology -> weakened socio political movement and radical improvement of lives Impoverishment > Empowerment Lack of women’s representation in politics -> women’s economic marginalization and impoverishment
https://stublogs.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/childs-play/
III. Alternative Globalization: Democratic social inclusion and
women’s rights• Liberalism • Economic freedom as well as independence from public control• Social exclusion: strong minority
• Substantive democratization
• Political and social resistance to capital-led globalization
• Social inclusion: weak majority
“The Third Way” or “New Labor” Relationship between Capital and Labor can be harmonized The key state function is to adjust domestic policies and
practices to accommodate the requirements of the neoliberal global economy
Democratization requires The prioritizing of social equity over economic growth The will of the state to accept public accountability
The role of state is central in the politics of globalization
III. Alternative Globalization: Democratic social inclusion and women’s rights
Global resistant movements are developed New models of solidarity and collective action are emerge that bridge old barriers between North and South Women are responding wide range of ways and at different level
Day-to-day resistance -> Support by group of women -> Formal organizational actions
Women’s movement are now required more than traditional male-oriented labor movements Rejection of unequal gender relationships can only be effectively pursued via organized political-social action.
Comments and Questions To what extent are the effects of globalization on women different from men in your society? What can you as individual contribute to social force to resist neoliberal global trends that harms women’s labor? In democracy, under the name of free market and individual liberty, neoliberalism tends to be dominated. So how should substantive democracy be pursued?