The modern-day economy is impacted by the globalization trends that impose extensive interrelations between countries in terms of resources, finances, and workforce. Within the context of gender equality, women are disproportionately exposed to the negative impacts of economic globalization. The concept of globalization incorporates complex processes and depends on a variety of interrelated factors. As the case study presenting the lives of two people, one from South Africa and one from Peru, shows, women are burdened with household responsibilities associated with the struggles of economic, social, and political nature (Everett & Charlton, 2013). Indeed, globalization implies the openness of resources of different countries and the integration of them into international corporations. In other words, global economic systems incorporate multiple countries or regions. As a consequence, recessions or crises impact the whole system, exposing all the constituents to financial burdens (Burn, 2011). Women described in the case study manage the economic challenges imposed by globalization.
The concept of gender also directly applies to the discussed issue. Maria and Jennifer have primary responsibility for the life and economic safety of themselves and their families. However, they encounter particular difficulties in aligning their responsibilities with the social and political structural expectations of their respective countries. Women in Peru, for example, do not commonly own land and earn money, which is why Maria was exposed to a complex system of interventions required to document her rights to work on her farm (Everett & Charlton, 2013). Similarly, in South Africa, women like Jennifer experience underpayment and suffer from financial instability. As Burn (2011) states, it is a common reality of globalization’s impact on women, when they are employed in low-paid jobs and cannot obtain equal payment with men. Moreover, the jobs women obtain are predominantly insecure and do not provide relevant economic and social stability.
Another important aspect of globalization is that it contributes to women’s discrimination in the political sphere. In both regions, Peru and South Africa, females have fewer rights as per influencing legislature, than men. As the statistics from Peru and South Africa demonstrate, women have a much lower percentage of participation in education, economy, and politics than men (Everett & Charlton, 2013). The two women from the case study share the same inequality in the political sphere. Their requests are unheard of, and their needs are not sufficiently met. This fact implies that women have less influence in modern globalized economies. Consequently, it is difficult to maintain households and provide for families when the head of the family is a woman. The evidence shows that “female-headed households are poorer than those with two parents or one male parent” (Everett & Charlton, 2013, p. 4). Thus, women are exposed to indirect gender discrimination under the circumstances of globalization.
On a global scale, women are exposed to finding work via migration due to globalization trends. The concept of discrimination is observed via low-paid and insecure jobs women are commonly entitled to, which place them at risk of being engaged in so-called women-specific areas. They include domestic care, health care, sweatshop labor, and sex work (Burn, 2011). Women cannot obtain the same career opportunities as men due to gender particularities. Therefore, as the case study shows, they need to overcome multiple structural, cultural, and economic challenges to mitigate the negative impact of globalization (Everett & Charlton, 2013). Therefore, despite the omnipresent discussion of the importance of gender equality, in reality, women in the modern globalized world are disproportionately discriminated against.
References
- Burn, S. M. (2011). Women across cultures: A global perspective. McGraw-Hill.
- Everett, J., & Charlton, S. E. M. (2013). Women navigating globalization: Feminist approaches to development. Web.