Globalization and Women

Gender gap – feminization

of poverty
 Women are disproportionately poor
 Women who work, statistically earn less than men
 Women often work more in the home than men do (due
to gender discrimination and employment opportunities
for women)
Gender Gap – Power Shift
 Culturally women are often seen as inferior to men
 See chart in Exploring Globalization textbook page 329 (figure
14-4)
 Women often do not play a major role in politics
 See charts in Exploring Globalization textbook page 331
(figures 14-8, 14-9)
 Actions taken
 Guaranteeing rights for women in legislation
 Increasing access to education
 Providing economic opportunities
 Using communications technology to allow women to
access and share information (thus the need for women
to be treated equally, including access to education and
technology)
 Creation of UN and other NGO organizations to assist
women
 Concern
 In some areas globalization has led to an increase of
discrimination against women in order to maintain the
traditional roles, but throughout most of the world,
globalization has led to greater opportunities for women
(information, awareness, organizations)
Globalization and Children
 Issues
o Do you have these “rights”
 Taken care of (or struggle financially)
 Cared for and encouraged in your home (or left alone)
 Maintained the role of “child” (or had to take care of siblings)
 Play after school (or work)

Why would these be

considered a right?
 Children and War
 Child soldiers
 Refugees
 Growing up in a dangerous situation
 Employment
(2004 – 250 million children working)

 Increased opportunities for work –

children may be hired before adults
 Work for lower wages
 To young to protest against
abuse/unsafe conditions
 Easy to exploit
Consequence of children
working
 Actions taken
 Guaranteeing rights for children through legislation
 Creation of UNICEF and other NGOs to help children
(providing education, food and shelter)
 Issue that affects both women and
children – the HIV/AIDS Crisis

 How it is spreading so quickly across Africa

 Migrant workers come home and spread the disease to their
wives
 Women give birth to infected babies
 Soldiers rape women (including children)
 Illegal drug use
 All related to ignorance of how the disease is passed, lack of
government funding (for education and treatment)
 Issue: this is not only a health concern, but also economic – the
working population is being decimated, grandmothers are taking
care of the children, farms are going untended