Globalization of Gender and Feminism: Possibilities and Challenges

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Globalization of Gender and Feminism
Possibilities and Challenges

• Nelly P. Stromquist
• College of Education
• University of Maryland
• May 2009

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Significant Distinction

• Gender refers to the social construction of
  sexual differences thus, gender studies means
  the examination of the consequences of such a
  construction.
• Feminism, in contrast, is a political position
  that seeks to modify and, if possible, undo
  gender.

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Possibilities due to Globalization

• Technological
• Economic
• Political
• Educational

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 Gender--Possibilities due to Globalization

• Technological Dimension
• --Internet and cell phones foster
  greater connectivity across social groups and
  countries.
• --Satellite TV brings news and norms from
  around the globe.

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Gender--Possibilities due to Globalization

• Economic Dimension
• --Greater incorporation of women in the labor
  force.
• --Womens access to independent income.
• --Greater authority for women within
  the household.

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Gender--Possibilities due to Globalization

• Political Dimension
• --Greater diffusion of human rights values.
• --Greater acceptance of democratic ideas and
  practices across nations.
• --Increased acceptance of the notion of full
  citizenship.

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Gender--Possibilities due to Globalization

• Education Dimension
• --Global policies EFA, FTI, MDGs.
• --Women registering faster growth than men in
  school enrollment.
• --Women moving toward parity in higher
  education in several developing regions.

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GenderChallenges brought about by Globalization

• Technological Dimension
• --A sizable gender gap in technology, with
  womenhaving less access to the Internet than
  men.
• --Dominance of men as users, designers,
  decision-makers and content-producers.
• --Over 70 of the Internet content is
  pornographic.
• --Technology does not alter the power to make
  demands a reality, nor does it increase the
  ability to disrupt masculinity.

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GenderChallenges brought about by Globalization

• Economic Dimension
• --Women are more exposed than men to low
  productivity and poorly paid, unstable jobs.
• --Competition for jobs suppresses demands for
  salaries of comparable worth and decreases time
  for political activism among women.
• --Uneven economic development is forcing
  migration, including that of women.
• --Public policies recognize womens
  vulnerability but not their roles as economic
  players.

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GenderChallenges brought about by Globalization

• Political Dimension
• --State retrenchment in many countries.
• --With state reduction, less investment in
  social services.
• --Many responsibilities--caring of children, the
  elderly, and the sick--absorbed by women.

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GenderChallenges brought about by Globalization

• Educational Dimension
• --Discourse of global and national policies
  exceeds reality.
• --Substantial expansion but low quality.
• --Adult education is a neglected field, with
  very few national exceptions.
• --Significant under representation of women in
  science and technology.

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FeminismOpportunities brought about by
Globalization

• Feminists today enjoy great connectivity through
  Internet capabilities. Ability to produce a
  united front among women.
• Much greater communication between North and
  South activists.
• Efficient communication of micro-enterprises with
  customers, suppliers, and banks helps small women
  entrepreneurs.

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FeminismChallenges brought about by Globalization

• Under globalization, patriarchy does not go away
  but rather emerges in new forms.
• ICT policies in many countries are led by
  information technologies telecommunications
  focuses on business and technological rather than
  social issues.
• Educational policies give priority to performance
  standards, school improvement, higher math,
  science, and reading scores.
• Emphasis on scientific research leaves little
  space for social justice and equity agendas.

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IN BALANCE

• Paradox of greater connectivity and decreased
  political activism among women.
• State retrenchment reduces support for womens
  empowerment.
• Education reoriented toward competition and
  production rather than solidarity and social
  justice.