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)  See cartoon in Exploring Globalization textbook page 331

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 w o r k i n g  Long hours without enough nutrition/sleep/exercise  Abuse from employers  Lack of education (no time to go to school)  Lower level of education = lifetime of low-paying jobs 

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