1. Gender and Globalization Dr. Carl Davila The College at Brockport The Setting: West Bengal S.U.N.Y. Global Workforce Project

2. A Short History of Globalization and India After independence from Great Britain in 1947, Indian politics were dominated by the Congress Party, which favored central control of the economy and state bureaucratic control of many industries. http://www.courtneylodge.com/files/u1/india_new_delhi.jpg

3. A Short History of Globalization and India By the 1980s, India had fallen behind other developing countries, such as China and Brazil, despite having one of the largest working populations in the world. In the 1990s, the Indian government initiated a process of bureaucratic and other reforms known collectively as Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG). http://www.courtneylodge.com/files/u1/india_new_delhi.jpg

4. A Short History of Globalization and India The result has been an increase in foreign investment — the globalization of the Indian economy. The Indian economy has experienced extremely rapid expansion, with one of the highest growth rates in the world. http://www.courtneylodge.com/files/u1/india_new_delhi.jpg

5. A Short History of Globalization and India However, this growth has mainly been limited to textile manufacturing and service industries. Unlike China, India has not invested in the infrastructure necessary for heavy or high-tech industry. http://www.courtneylodge.com/files/u1/india_new_delhi.jpg

6. A Short History of Globalization and India http://www.grain.org/articles/index.cfm?id=35&print=yes West Bengal 4 th most populous state in India, and the most densely populated, with over 80 million people Also one of the poorest and least industrialized in the country.

7. A Short History of Globalization and India http://www.grain.org/articles/index.cfm?id=35&print=yes West Bengal Although agriculture still dominates, recently the state has encouraged foreign investment in high-tech industries. West Bengal’s economy is now the fastest-growing in all of India.

8. A Short History of Globalization and India http://www.grain.org/articles/index.cfm?id=35&print=yes West Bengal

9. Points for Discussion Questions Q 1: What conditions (economic, cultural; local, national) might lead a class of people to think that “freedom means owning things”? Q 2: Can local economic changes “cancel” patriarchy? Are these women just fooling themselves ? Q 3: Put yourself in the shoes of one of these women. Why do you put so much emphasis on your new ability to work and consume ?

10. Analyze using course concepts: Q 1: Please describe the role of [choose one: gender system or gender ideology] in this case from W. Bengal. Q 2: To what extent is this a case of [choose one: accommodation, resistance or hybridity]?