The feminization of Labor in an era of global capitalism Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s development strategy Beginning in 1971, many Southeast Asian countries have followed a model of economic development based on Export-Led Growth. Significantly different from strategies pursued in Latin America

Export-Led Growth What is export-led growth? It is a political-economic strategy that seeks to improve economic growth by directing the domestic economy toward producing products for wealthy countries. Often this strategy begins by producing cheap, low-skilled products like textiles and advances toward high-skilled, expensive goods like computers.

Export Processing Zones In order to facilitate the process of export-led growth many Southeast Asian countries have developed export processing zones (EPZs). EPZs are located the coast to facilitate shipping; they are zones where tariffs on goods are eliminated and incentives are given to foreign companies to attract Foreign Direct Investment.

Growth Triangles In several regions of Southeast Asia growth triangles have emerged in which one region of the triangle provides capital and financial resources, while the other points provide cheap labor and raw materials. The growth triangle developed around Singapore and the EPZ in Batam will be discussed in the video.

Labor in the EPZ EPZs generally employ almost an entirely female labor force. Between 80 and 90% of the workers in new factories are women. Many of these women come from rural regions. Often times wages are below a subsistence level. Working conditions can be brutal, with workers working 16 hours a day 7 days a week. In addition to factory work, a massive sex industry has emerged in EPZs, another form of highly exploitive female work. Why are women overwhelming chosen for this type of exploitive, brutal work?

Feminization of labor and Gender What is gender? The concept of gender is usually used in distinction to that of sex (i.e. maleness and femaleness) in order to emphasize the SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION of women’s and men’s roles, relations and identities. The feminization of labor is a term used to describe emerging gendered labor relations born out of the rise of global capitalism. Remember Post-fordist industrial strategies and neoliberalism.

Patriarchy and the feminization of labor Patriarchy: A term used to think about how unequal power relations between men and women are established through realms stretching from the social organization of reproduction and childcare, to the organization of paid work, the operation of the state, cultural understandings of gender differences, the regulation of human sexuality, and men’s violence towards women. The Feminization of labor in EPZs is driven by patriarchal relations and gendered perceptions, some of which are fostered in rural villages and others which are developed by local and transnational business people (men). What are these patriarchal, gendered beliefs and how do they translate into global labor relations?

Are there benefits from this new social organization? While these labor relations are highly exploitive, increased demand for female labor and greater levels of economic autonomy for women do bring some benefits. Changing perceptions of female children in rural Southeast Asia. Greater economic freedom for women may help to lessen patriarchal relations at the household and community level

Conclusion The development of EPZs has been driven by a belief in the neoliberal ideology of free trade and production (export) led growth. Gendered and patriarchal beliefs about women’s willingness to accept lower wages, worst working conditions and longer hours than men has driven the shift toward the feminization of labor in EPZs. The exploitative labor relations that exist in EPZs allow for massive profits to be created for multinational corporations and have increased foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia. Access to cheap manufacture goods in America, Europe and Japan depend on exploitive and highly feminized labor relations in Southeast Asia