Globalization has been defined as a global factor that enhances life and the way in which different social, economical and existing phenomena are represented (. The representation on these phenomena has been improved with advancement of global factors such as technology and advancement in ways in governing strategies. In an argument by Bridges (2002) globalization can be described as a way in which global nations tend to have a united connection in which they operate and govern global resources. This paper will analyze the relationship between globalization and gender. The paper will identify the sectors influenced by globalization and their relationship to gender. Additionally, the paper will identify one gender marginalized by the changes associated with globalization. This would be automatically, the female who are marginalized in many ways by the society. The journey to this marginalization will be addressed and the influence of globalization will be determined as whether negative or positive. Conclusively, the paper will analyze global changes and the fight towards gender equality.
Development of globalization and its expected influence on gender
This definition is visible in many global conferences that have resulted for global calls for togetherness and unity and nations strive to have common ground on global significant factors or issues. In regards to individual countries, globalization can be referred to ways in which countries adapt new mechanisms and techniques of governing and resources management. Many countries have shifted from being conservatives to internal policies and have adapted external and international policies that would improve national policies and management. The reception of globalization policies has been incredible as the difference has been noted even in the economic sector. Corporate and investors have embraced the global changes as they venture new areas of trade and channeling for favorable trading rules and policies (Smith, 2007). The changes have also been visible in the social front as many cultures, religion and social practices have had positive change. The practices in the three factors have significantly with inhumane and barbaric practice being dropped and advised against. The depth of the changes in the social, economic and political fronts sum up the significant global changes that make up the steps towards globalization (Smith, 2007). Regardless of this notable significant changes, globalization has faced criticism on either I has more positive or negative effects to the society. Additionally, critics point out that globalization leads to the advancement of specific factors leaving out other part which also need change. For instance, there has been a global need to change the perception of female gender. It is an obvious assumption that the female population across have been slow in experiencing have brought t by globalization. There has been a global outcry by female activist and group to empower the girl child and the women to reach both the economic and political status enjoyed by their male counterparts. From each continent, there is a significant issue that revolves channeling for women rights and promotion of the girl child. For instance, 70% of refugees living in camps in Africa are women and children (Smith, 2007). These numbers rise annually with many countries still struggling to address issues leading to political conflicts. Bridges (2002) analyses the situation in the Africa continent where the girl is viewed as inferior in most cultural and social settings. This hinders their growth and greatly minimizes their chances of attaining prestigious position and status. With this trend being carried on from generation to generation, the significance of women in the society continues to deteriorate. However, in recent years the situation has began to change as women have become ore fierce in fighting of their rights and pushing for equality. With the help of globalization, different women organization across the globe have come together to create new and more effective strategies to enable them to fight for their rights. Bridges (2002)argues that women across have come together like ever before to support the fight and push for the equal representation in terms of gender in most global conferences. A decade ago, it was a normal scenario in global meetings to have an all male delegation. This has however changed as women have acquired few numbers to represent them in global arenas. With globalization leadership and delegation cannot be assigned to a specific gender as every person is given equal opportunities to succeed deepening on their credentials. Regardless of the slow pace the globe is accepting women in positions; the fight has been significant as the support from civil and activist groups has been outstanding. In an argument by Hopkins (2004) the relationship between the female gender and globalization is connected to their efforts to fight for their rights and equality the author further points out that these efforts have been fruitful as the globe recognizes the growth and success of prestigious women.
The discussion on gender and globalization mostly revolves around the position of the woman. This is because globalization is aimed at improving the marginalized factors of the society and being a woman is cause to be marginalized (Hopkins, 2004). Questions have been raised on whether or not globalization s an effective tool in terms of creating gender equality? Can globalization create a lasting solution in terms of gender equality? Are the strategies applied in globalization in ensuring all global societies benefit from the changes it brings with it? If not, how long will it take for the globe to experience sufficient change in terms of gender equality? Answering these questions would effectively explain the beneficial relationship between globalization and gender. Additionally, the non beneficial relationship would also be analyzed as one would effectively understand whether globalization is just and proper in terms of addressing the issue on gender equality.
Positive effects of globalization on gender
Hopkins (2004) points out that globalization has its first significant step after the Second World War as nations came together to stop another world war. This was done by putting in place mechanisms that hindered creation and use of weapons such as nuclear bombs. The author further points out that this agreement initiated numerous globalization steps. In terms of gender, the agreement after the second world war held little significance as the issue had not garnered support and sensitivity (Hopkins, 2004). Fast forward globalization to the modern century: there are numerous protests and activism issues that aim at fighting for women rights. Across all continents women have come up vigorously calling for equality arguing that they should have the same opportunities as men. With globalization it has been easier for women to channel for these rights as international bodies have come up to support women projects. For instance, the United Nations have been on the front line to protect women and children across the globe. Hopkins (2004) points out that the works by the UN are real examples of globalization as channeling equality on the gender issue. Additionally, the author argues that projects by the UN have significantly empowered women at different ages to come up with projects and entrepreneurial ideas to enhance their lives. The involvement of international bodies has been of great help to women in terms of funding, opportunities, centers for levying the grievances, exposure to donors and a connection to all global women groups. Another significant move to empower women is through the first ladies. First ladies have been meeting and coming up with ideas that would help fellow women reach prestigious positions in society. Valentine (2005) argues that first ladies can be able to create global projects with the aid of globalization policies and privileges. This particular benefit of globalization however disregards the need of the boy child and the need of the general masculine gender. In less privileged countries, the boy child is as worse as the girl child. However, the sensitivity the girl child issues is held cannot be compared to the sensitivity on the other side. This has greatly diminished the hopes of young boys with less or no privileges. Smith (2007) argues that if this trend continues the problem the female gender undergoes would be shifted to the male gander. Shifting of a problem would do no effect in changing and correcting a problem. However, one could easily point out that the women population has a greater need of activism than the male population. For years, women have disregarded and diminished by cultural and social perception as the weaker sex. Bu with the globalization this perception is slowly diminishing as simulation between men and women is visible in many arenas.
Another positive effect on globalization in regards to gender revolves around the change the practice has brought across the globe. Centuries back, violence against women such as domestic abuse and rape were numerous across the globe. This can be attributed to the fact that less was expected from legal bodies to protect the woman. In the modern century, there have been significant changes. The modern woman is protected and laws protecting the woman are categorized the same as the children’s. This has been effective since the number of reported cases on violence against women have reduced significantly. Nations have come together to create international laws that protect women from abuse and gender based violence. These laws have also seen the creation and establishment of programs and institution that deal in helping women heal from any form of violence. Smith (2007) points out that in every country on the globe, there are UN offices or group that deal with helping gender women recover from gender based violence. Apart from healing, the institutions also empower women with skills that may enable them empower themselves. These programs have gained global recognition as many leaders including male leaders being part of this global change that the woman need to be protected.
Women in leadership positions have also been a great benefit from the efforts of globalization. Valentine (2005) argues that a woman in position would an important figure in the society than a man in terms of changing a society’s values. The main problem lied in getting women to have these leadership positions. Women were viewed as inferiors and they could not appear in major global meeting and consensus. However, this has then changed for the better. In the modern century, women have become part of many global conferences making important global decisions. This promotes equality in the two genders and women feel appreciated as members of the society. Women have also been elected as state presidents a notion that would never gain acceptance in previous centuries. With globalization sensitizing the issue of equality and providing chance for the improvement of every individual, women can now get opportunities to get lead and take up global; leadership positions.
Globalization has enabled people to Experience the global world ethical and religious ways has a different scope. Experiencing refers to a state whereby an individual has gone through or witnessed the different ethical and religious ways. For instance, a person may be a Christian but he may have work acquaintances in an Islamic country. The individual has to obey and respect the religious specification in their new location. This experience gives one a versatile personality to handle guest ethical and religious ways. Experiencing the global world ethical and religious ways refers to the ability of a person understanding and respecting the way of life displayed by other individuals. In an argument by Muller (2014) experiencing requires a versatile person more than knowing different religious and ethical ways. The author further point out that, knowing the different provisions does not mean practicing the provisions. However, experiencing global ethical and religious ways means practicing and withstanding new ethical and religious ways that one is not accustomed to (Muller, 2014). This versatility in religions has enabled people to view women in the same way. Different religions have different ways of viewing people from different genders. Religious beliefs are significant since people base their perception on woman on the same. However, globalization has changed thus notion as people are enabled to differentiate between religions and borrow positive practices form another religion. For instance, the disregard of Muslim women to be leaders has been dismissed in many societies. This is after them taking up prestigious positions and still remains faithful to religion and God. It is an obvious assumption that globalization has led to interactions from different religious and ethical dispensation. For these interactions to be successful, individuals must be able to experience and know other religious and ethical ways apart from their own beliefs. However, psychologists point out that societies in the modern century have been able to involuntarily accept and incorporate other religious and ethical preferences from dissimilar societies.
Gender globalization in the commercial sector
The commercial sector has been slow in changing the perception of the woman as the inferior sex. Women are still offered menial jobs as the prestigious positions in organization are given to the men. Valentine (2005) points out that unless a woman has exemplary qualifications, they have a difficult career path as compared to that of men. However, this is greatly influenced by location and discipline. In Europe and the United States women have greater chances of success as compared to the woman in Africa or Asia.
In India for instance, the number of living below the dollar per day policy is astonishing. However, these women work every day in factories and get very little wages to show for it. Women in Asia are negatively affected by the changes brought by globalization (Pande, 2000). With globalization, nations like India had t find a signature commodity that would help them fit in the global economic market. This led to the rise of many factories that needed man labor for them to succeed. The rise of these factories led to the rise in demand for manual laborers. It is in these factories that most women get job openings. The working conditions in these factories are deplorable and the daily wage may be below or slightly above a dollar per day (Pande, 2000). If the globalization was that helpful to the gender based discrimination, why would the woman in Delhi work in two factories and still lives below the poverty line (Pande, 2000)? Apart from Asia, it is an expected scenario in third world countries that companies exploit women manual laborers. Globalization brought about commercial opportunities which organizations are desperate to exploit regardless of the means they use to gain from the opportunity.
References
Bridges, G. (2002). "Grounding Globalization: The Prospects and Perils of Linking Economic Processes of Globalization to Environmental Outcomes". Economic Geography 78 (3): 361–386.
Hopkins, A.G. (ed.). (2004). Globalization in World History. London: Norton.
Muller, G.H. (2014). The new world reader. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin.
Pande, R. (2000). “Globalization and women in the agricultural sector”. London: Rout ledge.
Smith, C. (2007). International Trade and Globalisation. Stocksfield: Anforme.
Valentine, M. (2005).Globalizing Women: Transnational Feminist Networks. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
