Introduction
Modern trade is a product of a long historical development and social-economic organization of society. Recognition of the importance of creating an international trade and tariff institution has its origins in the bitter experience of the period running up to the 19th century. During this period, major countries such as the United Kingdom and France, the USA and Japan built economic blocs (WIO, GATT, EU) within their autonomous territories and colonies to protect their own industries, using the imposition of high tariffs and other trade barriers (Zo 12). These countries established preferential treatment systems so as to discriminate against non-allied states. This economic bloc trading system and the associated currency devaluation began a chain of events that resulted in a substantial reduction in world trade. At the beginning of the 21st century, it becomes evident that gender and trade are closely connected reflecting social and economic development of modern society.
Modern trade depends upon and is influenced by human development processes. The human development approach to trade policy means that a human has a possibility to make choices concerning economic and social, political and cultural variables and changes (Making Global Trade Work for People 22). In this case, human development determines approach of trade policies and general development of the global trade. Succeeding in the international sector requires the individual or a firm (TNC or MNC) determined commitment to developing a strategy based on the interrelationship of three factors: the market, the product, and the business person. In spite of great changes, women have still deprived a chance to participate in trade and economic relations on the global scale (Zo 16).
Gender approach
In recent years, gender approach becomes a part of a broader human development approach based on equal opportunities and gender equality principles. Historically, women were seen as a secondary class citizens identified with childbearing and housekeeping activities (Human Development Report 9). Today, gender equality becomes an issue of the day affected the economic sphere and trade relations. For feminists, trade is seen as a gender-neutral activity permitting both men and women to participate in business practices and trade negotiations. Thus: “some studies also point out that gender inequality in wages stimulated growth in semi industrialized economies such as Thailand” (Zo 10). Insofar as it affects women, a definition of gender discrimination is necessary since there will be many references in this book to discrimination, segregation, and differentiation. Gender approach is a part of human development process because women are involved in social life and economic activities on the global scale (Who’s counting? 1995).
Different gender impact
In spite of great changes in gender question, trade liberalization has a different impact on men and women: it opens new opportunities for men to participate in global trade but creates new challenges for women such as unequal pay and labor exploitation. The wage labor market still discriminates actively and persistently against women, and salary, social security, pensions and working conditions are often less favorable for women than for men (Making Global Trade Work for People 24). The world averages do, of course, conceal very great regional differences. Working women in manufacturing industries take home less than half the wages earned by men, Secondly, women’s work in the informal sector, notably in Asia, Latin America and Africa, is a significant factor in production and sales. This contribution is often totally ignored in the system of national accounts because of lack of definition as to what output would qualify as part of the gross national product, and because of lack of records and control. But the contribution is important enough for economists and social scientists to argue that the United Nations itself should revise its system of national accounts. For most women the translation of public activity from the economic to the political sphere is impeded by domestic responsibilities. Men also see women as having less of a chance to succeed in politics (Making Global Trade Work for People 25).
Conclusion
The gender-aware reform in the trading system is necessary in order to involve more women in trade relations and provide them with equal access to trade activities and business practices. In the movie Who’s counting?: Marilyn Waring unveils the truth of modern global trade and underlines the importance of changes in modern gender relations. With strong sociological overtones, is patriarchy and women’s labor. In most countries, women’s production is not taken into account simply because custom, law, or religion permits the husband to consider everything that she produces or earns as his own and he alone decides on the allocation of her time and their joint resources. Injustice to women is seen less in the extra work women must do than in the assumption that it is their role, and theirs alone, to do all the work inside the home (Zo 51). This assumption is a triple injustice because women end up working twice as many hours as men, are not paid for those extra hours of work, and their domestic work is looked down on because it is unpaid. The chief injustice is that a woman is expected, required, even forced, to hold down a job and also be a mother to her infant children while receiving no assistance from society, or the state, to carry this dual burden. Human development processes cannot be effective if women are excluded from them because of gender bias and unequal distribution of resources.
Works Cited
Human Development Report: Gender and Human Development, United Nations Development Program, UNDP, 1995, pp. 1-41.
Making Global Trade Work for People, United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, 2003, pp. 21-47.
Who’s counting?: Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics. Dir. By M. Nash. DVD. National Film Board of Canada, 1995.
Zo Randriamaro, Gender and Trade – Overview Report. Bridge, Institute of Development Studies, 2006. pp. 7-35, 50-56.