Sherry Darling
New Yorker
My papers on neoliberalism (which is the World Bank and IMF policy of forcing nations to open their markets and privatize everything, whether or not it makes sense for that specific nation, and regardless of if they're ready or not) this term were fun to write. Thought I'd share a bit of them, as they relate to much that is discussed here.
A snip from one paper:
Finally, the gendered nature of neo-liberal economic policies is a particularly vital theme of these essays. Essentially neo-liberal global capitalism depends on women to contribute a vast amount of unpaid or underpaid labor. In, ?The Limits of Microcredit?, Poster and Salime write that ?[World Bank and IMF] programs for allocating loans to poor countries and the attached debt repayment policies have devastated local economies, particularly by requiring governments to?suspend social services?.Women are hit hardest by such measures. They face an intensified burden from taking on second jobs, a reduction in food and clothing as the limited household resources typically go to men, and an increase in violence? (190). Structural adjustment programs which force state retreat from involvement in the global markets also impact women more than men, as the burden of housework, child care and care of the sick and elderly fall upon women and girls. Thus when states cut these programs, women?s opportunities and options vanish.
And a snip from another:
I also particularly appreciated Mittleman's point that globalization is not gender-neutral. As he notes, and numerous other feminist scholars have as well, the unpaid labor which women are implicitly expected to do, combined with cutbacks in social programs forced by IMF Structural Adjustment Programmes, effect women disproportionately. As one manager phrased it, women ?endure poverty well? (86). Indeed, Mittleman echoes and reinforces other studies when he notes that ?a regime of patriarchal discipline is reproduced in the factories? (86). He also notes what has been called the ?double shift? women are often forced to work as a direct result of globalized neoliberal policies: they must continue with their culturally demanded duties of house, child, elderly and sick care. Yet they must also work, as their husbands are not present, or do not earn enough to support the family alone. Despite this reality, women are paid as secondary wage earners (87-89). These and other factors combined to place women in deeply vulnerable positions, marginalized positions within Mittleman?s GDLP (global division of labor and power).
Hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
SD
A snip from one paper:
Finally, the gendered nature of neo-liberal economic policies is a particularly vital theme of these essays. Essentially neo-liberal global capitalism depends on women to contribute a vast amount of unpaid or underpaid labor. In, ?The Limits of Microcredit?, Poster and Salime write that ?[World Bank and IMF] programs for allocating loans to poor countries and the attached debt repayment policies have devastated local economies, particularly by requiring governments to?suspend social services?.Women are hit hardest by such measures. They face an intensified burden from taking on second jobs, a reduction in food and clothing as the limited household resources typically go to men, and an increase in violence? (190). Structural adjustment programs which force state retreat from involvement in the global markets also impact women more than men, as the burden of housework, child care and care of the sick and elderly fall upon women and girls. Thus when states cut these programs, women?s opportunities and options vanish.
And a snip from another:
I also particularly appreciated Mittleman's point that globalization is not gender-neutral. As he notes, and numerous other feminist scholars have as well, the unpaid labor which women are implicitly expected to do, combined with cutbacks in social programs forced by IMF Structural Adjustment Programmes, effect women disproportionately. As one manager phrased it, women ?endure poverty well? (86). Indeed, Mittleman echoes and reinforces other studies when he notes that ?a regime of patriarchal discipline is reproduced in the factories? (86). He also notes what has been called the ?double shift? women are often forced to work as a direct result of globalized neoliberal policies: they must continue with their culturally demanded duties of house, child, elderly and sick care. Yet they must also work, as their husbands are not present, or do not earn enough to support the family alone. Despite this reality, women are paid as secondary wage earners (87-89). These and other factors combined to place women in deeply vulnerable positions, marginalized positions within Mittleman?s GDLP (global division of labor and power).
Hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
SD