Section 4

Globalisation and Gender Equality

1
Globalisation
Globalization can be defined as “the increased interconnectedness and interdependence of
peoples and countries. It is generally understood to include two inter-related elements: the
opening of international borders to increasingly fast flows of goods, services, finance,
people and ideas; and the changes in institutions and policies at national and international
levels that facilitate or promote such flows” - World Health Organisation.

From an economic point of view, globalization can be defined as “the increasing

interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade
of commodities and services, the flow of international capital and the wide and rapid spread
of technologies. It reflects the continuing expansion and mutual integration of market
frontiers and the rapid growing significance of information in all types of productive
activities and marketization are the two major driving forces for economic globalization.”

In geography, globalization is defined as the set of processes (economic, social, cultural,

technological, institutional) that contribute to the relationship between societies and
individuals around the world. It is a progressive process by which exchanges and flows
between different parts of the world are intensified.

2
Because of trade developments and financial exchanges, we often think of globalization as
an economic and financial phenomenon. Nonetheless, it includes a much wider field than
just flowing of goods, services or capital. Often referred to as the globalization concept map,
some examples of globalization are:

Economic globalization: is the development of trade systems within transnational

actors such as corporations or NGOs;

Financial globalization: can be linked with the rise of a global financial system with
international financial exchanges and monetary exchanges. Stock markets, for instance, are
a great example of the financially connected global world since when one stock market has
a decline, it affects other markets negatively as well as the economy as a whole.

Cultural globalization: refers to the interpenetration of cultures which, as a

consequence, means nations adopt principles, beliefs, and costumes of other nations, losing
their unique culture to a unique, globalized supra-culture;

Political globalization: the development and growing influence of international

organizations such as the UN or WHO means governmental action takes place at an
international level. There are other bodies operating a global level such as NGOs like
Doctors without borders or Oxfam;

Sociological globalization: information moves almost in real-time, together with the

interconnection and interdependence of events and their consequences. People move all
the time too, mixing and integrating different societies;

Technological globalization: the phenomenon by which millions of people are

interconnected thanks to the power of the digital world via platforms such as Facebook,
Instagram, Skype or Youtube.

Geographic globalization: is the new organization and hierarchy of different regions

of the world that is constantly changing. Moreover, with transportation and flying made so
easy and affordable, apart from a few countries with demanding visas, it is possible to travel
the world without barely any restrictions;

Ecological globalization: accounts for the idea of considering planet Earth as a single
global entity – a common good all societies should protect since the weather affects

3
everyone and we are all protected by the same atmosphere. To this regard, it is often said
that the poorest countries that have been polluting the least will suffer the most from
climate change.

Gender Inequality
Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. It implies that women, men, boys and
girls of all classes and races participate as equals and have equal value. They enjoy equal
access to resources, freedoms and opportunities to exercise control.

Gender equality means that the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of individuals will
not depend on whether they are male or female, handicapped or able bodied, young or
elderly, white or black, or from rural or urban settings.

Women are entitled to live in dignity, safety and security. Empowering women and girls is
an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Women who are
healthy, educated and in charge of their lives contribute to the health and wealth of whole
families, communities and their nations.

4
5 Benefits of Gender Equality
Especially in a small business, each and every employee significantly impacts how your
business garners success. Even if you only add one new male employee to your team, he will
be able to bring to the table something that no one else has. The more variety in
perspectives and ways of thinking you have, the more benefits you will see within the
workplace, such as:

1. Varied Viewpoints: Having a rich and varied mixture of skills, talents and strengths
makes for all kinds of otherwise unexplored mental territory, and men and women bring
different things to the table. For example, women have an incredible way of improving
workplace functionality by supporting, collaborating with, rewarding and inspiring
coworkers, making for a stimulating and creative environment. While men can certainly be
good team players too, they are often able to bring in a pragmatic element with strength in
analyzing, influencing and delegating tasks within the workplace.

5
 2. Strengthen Communication: One of the biggest differences between men and
women is revealed through the ways in which we communicate. And as any business owner
knows, strong communication skills among your employees is essential to maintaining
success. Both genders need to be able to clearly express their needs, ideas and concerns in a
safe and open environment. This is where differences in communication come into play.
Men are typically better at communicating issues and tackling confrontation, whereas
women are more culturally influenced to work as peacemakers and try to solve an issue
internally first. Both means of communication and conflict resolution are essential, and one
would not work without the other.

3. Foster a Positive Work Environment: No matter the field your business is in, a
work environment where employees feel valued and respected by each other is going to
make for an all-around better workplace for everyone. With a diverse group of men and
women from different backgrounds, your employees will notice strengths and talents in
their coworkers that they don’t encompass themselves, and it’s very likely that this
appreciation for differences will stimulate an environment where everyone respects one
another. This makes for a team better equipped to handle conflict when it inevitably arises,
and a safe environment where all feel valued makes for improved company morale as well
as increased job performance.

4. Take Care of Employees, and They’ll Take Care of You: Speaking of improved job
performance, it’s no surprise that workers produce better quality work when they are taken
care of and feel comfortable, trusted and safe. To get the highest quality of work, provide an
environment where people are judged based on the work they do, not their background,
race or gender. Allowing both men and women to feel valued as people will enhance the
workplace immensely. The kind of nurturing environment you supply for your employees
will have a positive ripple effect on both job satisfaction and performance.

6
 5. Gain a Great Reputation: Along with team members feeling appreciated by and
respectful toward their co-workers, increased gender equality and diversity within the
workplace really skyrockets your company’s reputation to the outside world. People with
similar values will want to work both with you and for you based off on the harmonious
workplace you’ve nurtured. Unfair and discriminatory work environments make it hard for
employers to create the highest-functioning, most productive workplace. But equal
treatment, opportunity and reward make for happy employees, which makes for better
business and a better reputation for your brand. Clients, community and customers will
want to be a part of what you’ve created.

Globalisation’s Impact on Gender Equality

What impact has globalisation had on gender equality in terms of economic integration,
technical change and access to information on gender inequality? Not everyone is benefiting
from globalisation. Women, for whom existing constraints are most binding, are often left
behind. While the forces unleashed by globalisation have lifted some of the barriers to
greater gender equality, public action is needed to lift these further. In particular, public
policy needs to address gender gaps in endowments, agency, and access to economic
opportunities.

The world has witnessed an enormous economic transformation over the past three
decades, fostered by increasing global flows of goods and services, technology and
information. These changes have transformed the way domestic and global markets and
institutions function, and have thus changed the economic landscape for individuals,
households, firms, and governments.

Globalisation has brought increased access to economic opportunities. Trade openness and
the spread of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have increased women’s

7
access to economic opportunities and in some cases increased their wages relative to men’s.
Growth in export and ICT-enabled sectors, together with a decline in the importance of
physical strength and a rise in the importance of cognitive skills, has increased the demand
for female labour. ICT has also increased access to markets among female farmers and
entrepreneurs by easing time and mobility constraints.

Several factors associated with a more global world strengthen the incentives for action
toward greater gender equality:

 Gender inequality is more costly in an integrated world because it diminishes a

country’s ability to compete internationally—particularly if the country specialises in
female-intensive goods and services.

 International peer pressure has also led more countries than ever to ratify treaties
against discrimination.

 Growing media exposure and consumers’ demands for better treatment of workers
has pushed multinationals toward fairer wages and better working conditions for
women.

Globalisation is shifting gender roles and norms:

 Increased access to information, primarily through television and the Internet, allows
countries to learn about social mores in other places, which can change perceptions
and promote the adoption of more egalitarian attitudes.

8
 Economic empowerment for women reinforces this process by promoting changes in
gender roles and allowing women to influence time allocation, shift relative power
within the household and exercise agency more broadly.

 Globalisation has the potential to contribute to greater gender equality. However, in

the absence of public policy, globalisation alone cannot end gender inequality.
Despite significant increases in agency and in access to economic opportunities for
many women in many countries, large gender gaps remain in some areas. Public
action is needed to close gender gaps in endowments, agency, and access to
economic opportunities. Only then will countries be able to capitalise on the
potential of globalisation as a force for greater gender equality.