Globalization has massive
impact on the lives of women. Globalization gave women right to live with
freedom of speech, dignity and vote. Globalization gave women political
awareness to represent their rights in parliament. No doubt globalization gave
women opportunity to represent themselves in society but also reduced the
ability of women in developing nation.
Although women’s roles in the world have changed from traditional agricultural
and domestic roles, to manufacturing and assembly production, the overall effect
of globalization (based on the literature that I studied) has proven to be
negative. Researchers in the fields of Sociology, Anthropology, and Economics
have collected empirical data that shows the consequences of globalization on
the lives of women and their families in developing nations Globalization has
changed the responsibilities for males and females, where females are given more
responsibility over the survival of the family. Although the demand for female
employment brings about an array of opportunities and a sense of independence,
but the concept of glass ceiling also exist in corporations. Corporations prefer
female labor over male labor because women are considered to be “docile”
workers. Like SALs implement by the IMF are gender biased towards males.
Corporations are failed to include females in managerial and upper-level
positions. The limited advanced of women in the formal sector show a great
disregard for their social and economic responsibilities within developing
nations. Female labor is not rewarded in relation to the impact they have on
society. Therefore, women’s work continues to be stigmatized as inferior, in
comparison to males work, regardless of their increased responsibilities in
society. The film entitled the hidden face of globalization also discusses the
effects of globalization and free trade on women in Bangladesh. The women are
constantly verbally and physically abused in order to keep up with production
demands from corporations. One woman in the film claimed that even though she
was sick she had to continue working.
The economic policies and structural adjustments associated with globalization
create the most negative impact on women in the developing world. The denial of
social and economic rights is the most inhumane aspect associated with the
formal and informal sectors. Economists and policy makers who implement these
adjustments need to consider the impact of the current policies on women’s lives
and the inequalities that exist between men and women. Enabling the advancement
of female opportunities and guaranteeing female workers more rights will
increase the quality of life and create a more sustainable living standard for
women and their families in the developing world.
Without these changes, women will continue to suffer in their subordinate
positions within the economic social and cultural market.