Feminization of Labour
Feminisation of labour:
A good or bad thing for women in developing countries?
Feminisation of labour is a marker given to the movement towards greater employment of women, and of men willing and able to operate with these more 'feminine ' modes of interaction (“Feminization of Labor Law and Definition”). The last few decades have witnessed an increase in the employment of women in most developing countries, despite the discrimination in wages and earnings. The changes brought about may be partly due to an improvement in the socioeconomic status of the population, such as the level of education of women along with the greater demand for both male and female labour in the workforce. In spite of the availability of new opportunities in high flexibility labour markets, I argue that the feminisation of labour brings more detriment than benefit to women in most developing countries.
With the increase in female employment rate in developing countries, new opportunities are available in high flexibility labour markets. Feminisation of labour force has taken place with the expansion of export-oriented manufacturing sector in many industrializing countries, which leads to the creation of new opportunities for wage employment for women (Mahmud). As a result of this, women are now capable of being a source of income to support the family. Besides that, opening up industrial and former enterprises in the South gives some sort of freedom and improves the status of the poor working women (Rahman). This comes from earning wages, being able to make decisions, having a greater voice in the community and enjoying greater mobility (Rahman). Female labour is also said to be more suited to the more flexible and informal new modes of production which allows female employees to fulfill their responsibilities at home and also the workplace. Nonetheless, the downside of this flexibility of labour is that female employees would typically be taking on jobs that are part-time,
A good or bad thing for women in developing countries?
Feminisation of labour is a marker given to the movement towards greater employment of women, and of men willing and able to operate with these more 'feminine ' modes of interaction (“Feminization of Labor Law and Definition”). The last few decades have witnessed an increase in the employment of women in most developing countries, despite the discrimination in wages and earnings. The changes brought about may be partly due to an improvement in the socioeconomic status of the population, such as the level of education of women along with the greater demand for both male and female labour in the workforce. In spite of the availability of new opportunities in high flexibility labour markets, I argue that the feminisation of labour brings more detriment than benefit to women in most developing countries.
With the increase in female employment rate in developing countries, new opportunities are available in high flexibility labour markets. Feminisation of labour force has taken place with the expansion of export-oriented manufacturing sector in many industrializing countries, which leads to the creation of new opportunities for wage employment for women (Mahmud). As a result of this, women are now capable of being a source of income to support the family. Besides that, opening up industrial and former enterprises in the South gives some sort of freedom and improves the status of the poor working women (Rahman). This comes from earning wages, being able to make decisions, having a greater voice in the community and enjoying greater mobility (Rahman). Female labour is also said to be more suited to the more flexible and informal new modes of production which allows female employees to fulfill their responsibilities at home and also the workplace. Nonetheless, the downside of this flexibility of labour is that female employees would typically be taking on jobs that are part-time,
Cited: “Feminization of Labor Law and Definition.” Definitions. US Legal. Web. 14 Dec. 2013. Jenkins, Sarah. Gender, Place and the Labour Market. Cornwall: Ashgate, 2004. Print. McCall, Leslie. Complex Inequality: Gender, Class, and Race in the New Economy. New York: Routledge, 2001 Mehta, Jaya. “Women and Globalisation.” Revolutionary Democracy. Sep. 1999. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. “Pay Equity and Discrimination.” Institute for Women’s Policy Research. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. “Sexual Harassment.” Australian Human Rights Commission. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.