Does Globalisation benefit or cause inequalities for men and women?

Essay by lea123University, Bachelor'sA-, September 2006

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Globalisation is believed to make the world a better place, within the context of global gender and sexualities globalisation has allowed men to enter into the paid labour market during the transition from a feudal to a capitalist society, which was later followed by women, as females were encouraged to perform home duties due to biological and natural differences between the sexes, along with patriarchal and hegemonic beliefs formed by society. Therefore women receive less income due to the fact that men are seen to be the breed winners. Furthermore women who choose gain employment are encouraged to work in the private sector opposed to the public sector whose occupations are suited to their natural states on part-time bases in order to perform household duties. What's more the majority of positions held by women and ethnic men are non-managerial and unskilled due to social beliefs of feminine characteristics and domination over women and ethnic men.

Therefore education is important to gain the skills necessary to move up the corporate and social ladder. However women and ethnic men face difficulties acquiring these skills due to the costs involved in higher education, along with those who do gain access only a minority actually complete their degree. Hence Trans National Corporations (TNC's), global institutions, religion exploit these people causing devastating effects such as poverty. Therefore this paper will clearly demonstrate that whilst globalisation has benefited men and women, globalisation does not improve the world it merely enhances inequalities faced by women and ethnic men.

Albrow (1990) cited in Cohen, R. & Kennedy, P. 2000:24 believes that globalisation is... [cultural, social, political, and economic processes], which are incorporated into a single global society...[relying on gender relations in order to be maintained]. Hence sex, cultural socialisation, gender identity and gender all play a vital role...