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Women & Work in Latin Women & Work in Latin AmericaAmerica

Theoretical Background Theoretical Background Illustration: Women Berry Workers Illustration: Women Berry Workers

in Michoacin Michoacán, Mexicoán, Mexico

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GlobalizationGlobalization Two PerspectivesTwo Perspectives::

Washington Concensus (Neoliberalism):Washington Concensus (Neoliberalism): International investment & free trade International investment & free trade

contribute to expansion of production, new contribute to expansion of production, new technologies, create new jobs, improve living technologies, create new jobs, improve living standardsstandards

Globalization contributes to Globalization contributes to unemployment, povertyunemployment, poverty The globalized market consolidates U.S. The globalized market consolidates U.S.

capitalism around the worldcapitalism around the world Which of these perspectives is best Which of these perspectives is best

supported?supported?

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Globalization & Latin Globalization & Latin AmericaAmerica

Globalization is associated with:Globalization is associated with: WTO promoted free tradeWTO promoted free trade Cultural imperialism (McDonalds, Walmart), Cultural imperialism (McDonalds, Walmart),

outsourcing outsourcing Forced out-migrationForced out-migration Environmental destructionEnvironmental destruction Social Inequities:Social Inequities:

20% control 83% of Production20% control 83% of Production 60% survive on 6% of the GDP60% survive on 6% of the GDP

It is NOT sustainable & resistance is It is NOT sustainable & resistance is mountingmounting

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Globalization & WomenGlobalization & Women Increases the exploitation of womenIncreases the exploitation of women

Women enter the job market on the Women enter the job market on the global assembly line (global sweat shops)global assembly line (global sweat shops)

The informal sectorThe informal sector Or are forced into sex tradeOr are forced into sex trade

The invisible economy of housework is The invisible economy of housework is neglected—involves the double dayneglected—involves the double day

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TheoriesTheoriesThe institutions that promote The institutions that promote

globalization are genderglobalization are gendereded—male —male expressions of capitalist patriarchyexpressions of capitalist patriarchy IMF, World Bank, & Structural AdjustmentIMF, World Bank, & Structural Adjustment Policies neglect gender inequality & Policies neglect gender inequality &

differences in power & distribution of differences in power & distribution of resources resources withinwithin households households

Unpaid domestic labor is not viewed as Unpaid domestic labor is not viewed as an essential economic activityan essential economic activity

75% of emergency funds are channeled 75% of emergency funds are channeled to mento men Assuming they will automatically benefit Assuming they will automatically benefit

womenwomen

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Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory Neoliberal policies depend on Neoliberal policies depend on

unequal power relations between unequal power relations between men & womenmen & women

Women’s unpaid domestic labor is Women’s unpaid domestic labor is vital to the success of structural vital to the success of structural adjustment policiesadjustment policies

Women’s reproductive roles serve Women’s reproductive roles serve as a safety net for these policies…as a safety net for these policies…

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The model depends on women’s unpaid The model depends on women’s unpaid domestic labor to feed, clothe, and educate domestic labor to feed, clothe, and educate children even when they work outside the children even when they work outside the homehome

Women are responsible for household Women are responsible for household budgets, thus carry the burden of structural budgets, thus carry the burden of structural adjustmentadjustment

They must reduce purchases & intensify their They must reduce purchases & intensify their household and extra-domestic workhousehold and extra-domestic work

Land used for subsistence crops is Land used for subsistence crops is transformed to export production, reducing transformed to export production, reducing their ability to feed their familiestheir ability to feed their families

Young girls often leave school to help their Young girls often leave school to help their mothers or work in the labor market to help mothers or work in the labor market to help the familythe family

The model assumes women will subordinate The model assumes women will subordinate their own interests to sustain a system that their own interests to sustain a system that oppresses themoppresses them

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Women in the Labor Women in the Labor ForceForce

Women joined the labor force in Women joined the labor force in unprecedented numbers (34% of unprecedented numbers (34% of total employment)total employment)

Women do 2/3 of the work in their Women do 2/3 of the work in their communitiescommunities

Yet they earn 35-50% less than menYet they earn 35-50% less than men

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Helen SafaHelen Safa—Economic Restructuring & Gender —Economic Restructuring & Gender

SubordinationSubordination Structural Adjustment weakens labor & Structural Adjustment weakens labor &

strengthens capital (comparative study of strengthens capital (comparative study of Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba)Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba)

Multi-level analysis: Global, National, LocalMulti-level analysis: Global, National, Local Challenges the “Myth of the Male Breadwinner”Challenges the “Myth of the Male Breadwinner” Importance of women’s social reproduction Importance of women’s social reproduction

when the state no longer fulfills its when the state no longer fulfills its responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Relate examples from her article to the Relate examples from her article to the presentation on women berry workers in Mexicopresentation on women berry workers in Mexico

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Christine Ho:Christine Ho:Caribbean Transnationalism As a Gendered ProcessCaribbean Transnationalism As a Gendered Process Globalization (“Late Capitalism”)Globalization (“Late Capitalism”)

IMF/World Bank structural adjustmentIMF/World Bank structural adjustment Migration as a safety valve & reliance on Migration as a safety valve & reliance on

remittancesremittances Affect on family structuresAffect on family structures

Matrifocal families are not the problem, but a Matrifocal families are not the problem, but a solution to late capitalismsolution to late capitalism

Capitalism & Patriarchy function together to Capitalism & Patriarchy function together to promote gender & class oppressionpromote gender & class oppression

They granted males a family wage, assuming They granted males a family wage, assuming women’s earnings were merely supplementalwomen’s earnings were merely supplemental

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Gendered IdeologiesGendered Ideologies Neoclassic theoryNeoclassic theory: Explains gender : Explains gender

disparities by women’s association with disparities by women’s association with the domestic spherethe domestic sphere

Assumes women are economically Assumes women are economically dependent on mendependent on men (normative nuclear family; (normative nuclear family;

re: Safa’s Myth of the Male Breadwinner)re: Safa’s Myth of the Male Breadwinner) Men (productive work) transfer their Men (productive work) transfer their

wages to economically dependent wages to economically dependent women (reproductive role)women (reproductive role)

Thus women’s wages are seen as Thus women’s wages are seen as supplementarysupplementary They receive money from men in exchange for They receive money from men in exchange for

managing family lifemanaging family life

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Families & HouseholdsFamilies & Households The “FAMILY” is viewed as a set of norms The “FAMILY” is viewed as a set of norms

based on marriage & co-residencebased on marriage & co-residence This conception ignores the culturally This conception ignores the culturally

specific ways that families & households specific ways that families & households organize themselvesorganize themselves Nuclear, extended, female-headed, joint, Nuclear, extended, female-headed, joint,

etc.etc. 1 in 5 families in Latin America is female- 1 in 5 families in Latin America is female-

headedheaded

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Gendered Ideologies are Gendered Ideologies are Embedded in the Labor Embedded in the Labor

Market & Societal Market & Societal InstitutionsInstitutions Radical TheoryRadical Theory: Women’s subordination is : Women’s subordination is

based on based on patriarchal ideologypatriarchal ideology Gender inequality is subsumed under a system of Gender inequality is subsumed under a system of

patriarchypatriarchy ““The Patriarchal Bargain” – Male authority The Patriarchal Bargain” – Male authority

offers women protection & security, thus they offers women protection & security, thus they will sacrifice personal needs & cede decision will sacrifice personal needs & cede decision making to income-generating husbandsmaking to income-generating husbands

Radical feminists theorize the household as Radical feminists theorize the household as the source of gender oppression & unequal the source of gender oppression & unequal powerpower

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Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory: Women’s : Women’s subordination is rooted in the subordination is rooted in the capitalist system of productioncapitalist system of production Gender inequality is subsumed in Gender inequality is subsumed in classclass

inequalitiesinequalities

Christine HoChristine Ho: Women are : Women are doubly subordinated by doubly subordinated by intersecting systems of intersecting systems of capitalism & patriarchycapitalism & patriarchy

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So Who is Right?So Who is Right? Luz de Alba Acevedo:Luz de Alba Acevedo:

““Salaried work constitutes a necessary Salaried work constitutes a necessary condition to affirm women’s autonomy condition to affirm women’s autonomy from men”from men”

Edna Acosta-BelEdna Acosta-Belén & Christine én & Christine Bose:Bose:““Women as a Last Colony”—women enter Women as a Last Colony”—women enter

the work force as exploited, low waged the work force as exploited, low waged workersworkers

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The Impact of The Impact of GlobalizationGlobalization

Poverty:Poverty: 2 million jobs lost in a single year2 million jobs lost in a single year 40% Loss of family income40% Loss of family income 150 million living below the poverty line150 million living below the poverty line

(an increase of 20 million)(an increase of 20 million) Lifestyles in the global North are Lifestyles in the global North are

supported on the backs of people in supported on the backs of people in the global Souththe global South

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Some Latin American Some Latin American ExamplesExamples El Salvador:El Salvador:

Entry of fast food, shopping mallsEntry of fast food, shopping malls Imports are double the amount of goods that it exportsImports are double the amount of goods that it exports Rising debt & dependence on remittancesRising debt & dependence on remittances

Nicaragua:Nicaragua: 70% live in poverty, 60% unemployed70% live in poverty, 60% unemployed

Mexico:Mexico: Farmers pushed off land in massive numbersFarmers pushed off land in massive numbers Billionaires increased from 2 to 24 (economic inequality)Billionaires increased from 2 to 24 (economic inequality)

Honduras:Honduras: Banana, sugar, beef industries feed the North American Banana, sugar, beef industries feed the North American

breakfast table—at the expense of corn, beans, ricebreakfast table—at the expense of corn, beans, rice Food shortagesFood shortages

Guatemala:Guatemala: Maquiladora workers earn $1.00 per day, 16 hour daysMaquiladora workers earn $1.00 per day, 16 hour days 40,000 workers, 80% are women40,000 workers, 80% are women Garment industry exports $100 million in clothing per Garment industry exports $100 million in clothing per

yearyear

1818

Labor Market Labor Market SegmentationSegmentation

Example from MichoacExample from Michoacánán MichoacMichoacán is a major site of male án is a major site of male

migration to the U.S.migration to the U.S. Agricultural exports segmented the Agricultural exports segmented the

labor marketlabor market 1980s & 1990s women in the 1980s & 1990s women in the

agricultural work force increased 300%agricultural work force increased 300%

1919

“ “Things have changed since women Things have changed since women started to work in the strawberry plants. started to work in the strawberry plants. The village has progressed. Before, we The village has progressed. Before, we didn’t have enough to eat. Now families didn’t have enough to eat. Now families can buy food and clothing. The girls have can buy food and clothing. The girls have changed too. They are not afraid to go changed too. They are not afraid to go out alone. They go wherever they want. out alone. They go wherever they want. It used to be that we didn’t even know It used to be that we didn’t even know what the nearby town was like and we what the nearby town was like and we didn’t talk to anyone who wasn’t from the didn’t talk to anyone who wasn’t from the village. Now the girls have boyfriends—village. Now the girls have boyfriends—some even marry boys from other places some even marry boys from other places who they met in the packing plants”who they met in the packing plants”