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?