Comparing Caragata and Quintero-Ramirez Canadian vs. Mexican Women

Feminization of Labour (Canada) & Feminization of Poverty (Mexico) Caragata (2003): gendered and differential benefits; labour force changes; marginalization; retrenching welfare state; commodification of social roles. Quintero-Ramirez (2002): capital mobility; flexible work & vulnerable for firing; feminization of poverty

Caragata: Concepts and themes Globalization’s influences on economy Low wages and high unemployment are paralyzing the global economy min Impact: costs/benefits Women, racialization, class inequality Canadian society: Welfare state, social welfare of W. Europe, social citizenship and public sphere

Quintero-Ramirez: Concepts and themes NDL: capital mobility Export processing zones (EPZ) in Mexico Deindustrialization in Core countries Precarious industrialization in DW

Caragata: P I: Theoretical issues: Globalization led to neo-conservatism Marginalization of women and the disadvantaged Privileged vs. racialized and immigrants Neoliberalism and cut back on social programmes Austerity in budget vs. public need Market rules - The State is reduced Income disparity and economic marginalization of groups

Caragata: Substantive issues: Women’s work under trade agreements: FTA & NAFTA Economic crisis in some industries (such as textiles and clothing) Historical conditions (e.g. migrant work in the manufacturing industry) Effects of NAFTA on migrant women workers in Canada.

Caragata: Massive changes in Labour force after FT agreements (1980s on) High % of workers in low-paid jobs Double the percentage of Women cf. to Men 20% Increase in Part-time or temp jobs in the 1990s (3wmn to 1 man) Women: Involuntary Part-time; shift work; multiple jobs, on call work 1997: 20% women workers full-time/year jobs with $30,000/yr Poverty line in 1997 was C$ 28,175 Walmart 10minhttp:// Wal-Mart :The High Cost of Low Prices (Part 4 of 11)

Caragata: Labour force restructuring continued: Most women PT workers were below poverty line Telework as deskilling-strip away elements of jobs that can be digitized for Productivity gains Narrowly specialized and become less relevant for any other skilled job Women carry greater burden of work at home and home- based production Women doing shadowork: bill paying, house work, child care- essential work that supports the continuation of the wage labour for production to go on. Instead of such issues being in the public for examination and redress, it has become a woman’s responsibility and hidden away in the private household.

Caragata: Gendered, racialized and class reinforcing economic patterns min Shit Canadians say to Aboriginal Women Immigrant women among workers Impact on the women and families Limiting of family allowance with child tax benefits Unemployment insurance program limited entitlements and benefits Unemployed without EI nearly doubles in 5 yrs ( ) Impact on the public sphere: hospital get limited funding Decline of families in middle class range of earnings

Quintero-Ramirez Mexico: maquiladora - high economic importance and value of maquiladoras in Mexican manufacturing But, poor treatment of women workers as commodities in the labour part of the value chain

Quintero-Ramirez Trade Agreements: FTA (1989) NAFTA (1994) Globalization And Women: More acute capitalistic competitiveness among the 3 countries Capital mobility to find cheap labour costs for different stages of production ( value chains)- out sourcing and offshoring of parts manufacturing

Reorganization of production EPZs in DW Deregulation of workplace- multitasking, flex-working hours Service industries – easy to reorganize and use more women precarious work Natural talent of women – surplus labour MNCs use Fexible labour – part-time and temp workers Feminization of the work force – increase of women’s participation

Quintero-Ramirez Canada: 1970s and 80s: Financial stabilization and IMF structural adjustment policies Conservatives in power: Cut down old age security, family allowance, and unemployment insurance Since 1986, Cutbacks in federal transfers to the provinces for postsecondary education and health care begun in 1986 were accelerated Global recession, high interest rates and inflation led to bankruptcies

Quintero-Ramirez FTA: manufacturing ( half a mil) jobs lost in Canada Hierarchical & centrally controlled manufacturers and retailers due to restructuring of industrial production – name-brands- led to subcontracting to domestic Canadian producers : 23% in garment industries – most working women affected – most immigrants in such low paid or temp jobs Domestic industries lost to MNCs Downsizing led to loss of union jobs & unions dwindled in strength and number Most women lost their precarious jobs permanently or their wages declined Less full-time workers

Quintero-Ramirez Growth of industries – Maquiladoras – Govt pushed for strong economic growth – not for workers 1980s: Import Substitution Industrialization policies !986: FTA- Export Oriented Production policies – domestic industries had low success Border Industrialization emerged stronger – Tax-free Textile maquiladoras were strong in mid and south of Mexico due to low wages – but moved away to Central America where wages became cheaper Tijuana: City of Work & Maquiladoras (Part 1) min Tijuana: City of Work & Maquiladoras (Part 2 of 2) min Maquiladora Photo Essay min

Quintero-Ramirez 1970s: women Maquiladora workers about 100% 1991: 60% In 2000: 55.2 % unskilled in the maquiladoras were women Men accepted low wage work Informal discrimination against women in more advanced manufacturing