Women and Globalization

by Naseem Kourosh, 20 / Austin, Texas

The word globalization is, for many, a source of stress. The mere utterance of those 5 syllables (the length itself probably a significant part of the fear factor) conjures images of a chaotic, impersonal, and overbearing world…a tidal wave of impending, incomprehensible global forces that an individual feels powerless against. It's hard to wrap our brains around this global tsunami that is touching every aspect of life in very significant ways. We have all been swept up in its waters. But perhaps there is one particular population that has felt the effects very acutely, and yet still remains largely unattended to as we all struggle to keep ourselves afloat. The good news is that they are used to being ignored, and have yet found resourceful and creative means of helping themselves as long as anyone can remember. The bad news is that it might be different this time around, and if we don't all do a little to throw them a line, they might not be able to keep their heads above water. Who is this vital and underappreciated group of people that we can no longer afford to overlook? Women, of course.

Anyone with access to academia will find that there is a host of scholars from all fields who will tell you that women are the losers as far as globalization is concerned. This is probably a claim worth examining more closely. But it might be a good idea to first decide exactly what we mean by globalization. There are countless definitions, but here's a pretty comprehensive one I've compiled from many sources, and have tried to keep free of the bias that plagues many characterizations of globalization. The term globalization was coined in the 1990s, and refers to the somewhat recent phenomenon of a more interconnected world: its major characteristics include political deregulation and liberalization, greater economic freedom in international markets and trade, increases in the efficiency and capability of transportation and communication technologies, the rise of transnational corporations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a more pervasive and socially acceptable push towards democratization and "fair governments," and a general free flow of capital (including information capital).

Now with that definition in mind, we can consider that these processes have often been criticized as primarily beneficial to men, since they are usually the benefactors of capital. By contrast, women have been forced to shoulder the strain of shifting economic realities, especially when it comes to running households and families as well as working outside the home. Women are often cited as the victims of the growth of multinational corporations into the developing world (as in the case of maquiladoras or sweatshops), and the primary targets of the rigid and drastic effects of Structural Adjustment Programs. These SAPs are implemented by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in exchange for loans to developing countries, and often have an impact on agriculture, trade, and daily life that harms women's independence and agency. Women end up doing hard labor inside and outside the home, being grossly underpaid, and supporting not only their husbands and children, but extended kin as well. They inevitably bear the burden.

Also, globalization is often characterized as the modern-day descendant of colonialism, and in the absence of physical occupation, the people of the "third world," women especially, are thus perceived as still suffering from the patriarchy and oppression of Western cultural and economic imperialism. Though it may be somewhat counterintuitive, the colonization of the world by European powers did not improve the status of women, since they were usually caught between the values of the colonizers and the colonized people. They often became a charged symbol for the reactive traditionalism and nationalism of the colonized people, and in many societies (most notably the Muslim countries of the Middle East, with such measures as the veil), were used as tools in the struggle for political power and cast aside when they were no longer of use. Consequently, their status often suffered, rather than improved, due to the presence of the supposed progressivism of Western powers, and outside of nationalistic movements, they had no forums for seeking separate women's rights or representing solely feminine interests. To many, this seems to be the case today, as non-Western and non-industrialized nations react to the increasing global influence of America and Europe with a severe traditionalism, which often includes subjugating women in various ways. The legacy of colonialism combined with the current effects of globalization seems to be more than women can reasonably be expected to endure or overcome.

Needless to say these are harsh accusations. No doubt, they are historically and factually based, and they at least deserve credibility, if not total confidence. Personally, I believe there's a great deal of truth in these evaluations of women and globalization. But perhaps it would be of use to look at the bigger picture for a second. Of course, it's hard to put it all in context. Especially since globalization is not just a global phenomenon, but it can be such a personal experience. We can all be confused at times. And rightly so.
Baffling things are happening, and we are striving to understand them. Not only are we more learned, we're more diverse as people because of the exchange of culture, politics, religion, music, art, literature, film, food, sports, and countless other things. Indeed, I would contend that we, the inhabitants of these times, are a different breed altogether: "The newly born babe of that Day excels the wisest and most venerable men of this time, and the lowliest and most unlearned of that period shall surpass in understanding the most erudite and accomplished divines of this age...."1 This is that Day.

To be fair, we must first concede that there is also a host of potentially adverse consequences of these processes, and we must acknowledge that all of this exchange and growth was probably initially motivated and facilitated by an expanding economic market. But globalization now seems to have a character all its own, independent of its original cause, and it can probably be best summarized as a lack of barriers and boundaries of every kind. Globalization means we are free of the restrictions of place and space that have bound humanity for so many millennia. Once we conceive of it this way, we see that economics is now only one of many aspects of globalization, and that this all-encompassing phenomenon and all its facets need not be negative-it can be an incredible tool, not for subjugation and exploitation, but for the emancipation and advancement of all people, especially women.

And women arguably stand to benefit the most. I believe that cursory glance at the history of the world's religions will prove that Prophets and Manifestations of God usually appeared in the most corrupt and decadent societies that had strayed furthest from His Word (think of the Jews before Moses). Also, my beliefs as a Bahai mean that I expect America to lead the world in the spiritual struggle for a unified and peaceful humanity, and this is largely because this country has, perhaps more than any other, fallen prey to materialism and selfishness. Thus, it has the greatest capacity to rise above its present condition and the greatest impetus for change. The trend seems to be that in humanity's social evolution, the populations that are the most lacking and the most in turmoil seem almost paradoxically to have the greatest potential for revitalization and leadership. In much the same way, women, as perhaps the greatest victims of globalization, can gain so much from the awareness of their oppression and the subsequent drive for emancipation. Women have long suffered in societies the world over, and only now do we see the avenues for them to unite, both at the grassroots and the global level, to advance their cause and achieve full equality.

In a sense, globalization has opened a door for the potentialities that have long lain dormant in women: "The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting-force is losing its weight and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy." Finally, in this global arena of information, awareness, sensitivity, and interconnection, women are gaining ground.

Truly, global consciousness has done amazing things for the cause of feminism. It has yielded other historical firsts: for the first time, women from diverse religions, ethnicities, and social classes across the world have seen one another as coworkers in the struggle for gender equality. Tools of media and communication, such as TV, books, movies, phones and cell phones, and the internet have enabled individual women as well as activist groups from many countries to connect with each other, offering inspiration, ideas, and strength in numbers as they discover common ground in women's issues. And international efforts at environmental preservation and sustainable development, and the accompanying pressure individual countries have felt to rectify their domestic conduct in such areas, have yielded an incredible spirit of volunteerism and activism in social projects geared toward responsible consumption and development, often with women at the forefront.

In addition, the proliferation of multinational corporations and foreign investments sometimes provides good work opportunities for women in non-Western countries (such as translation jobs in North Africa), and in some cases, the IMF and the UN have even provided a beneficial economic structure for women in developing countries (as was seen with micro-lending for women-headed small businesses in South Asia). Also, the increasing international awareness has led to the development of many independent NGOs and UN agencies to address women's issues, such as UNCEDAW (Commission on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) and UNWID (Women in Development), that are addressing women's issues on a global scale, as well as spurring the creation of numerous like-minded agencies within single countries, many of them state-sponsored.
Such an emerging worldwide movement and united front was clearly displayed in the UN-sponsored international women's conference in Beijing in 1995 and has continued to gain momentum as women (and men) around the globe rally around central issues like female genital mutilation, warfare rape, and the sex trade. And all over the world, we see advances being made. Women are lobbying at least somewhat successfully for greater legal rights and better political representation in legislature, even in some of the most restrictive countries, like Iran.

Though they may seem humble, these signs of progress are significant. They indicate something deeper than simply their practical value in changing daily life for women. These advances are the waves and the foam of a deeper current stirring beneath the surface of the ocean. The realization of the unity of the cause of women and their true equality-spiritual, intellectual, and social-is causing a revolution right at the surface of the ocean floor, and we have already begun to feel its rumblings.

No longer will women be the victims of the global tsunami. No longer will women struggle for air and maneuver blindly in search of a helping hand in rising waters. History is changing. The era of women's subjugation has come to an end; from here, only their emancipation remains. And women all over the world, from every background and through every avenue possible, will join this new wave as it spreads from its epicenter and gathers momentum. We will use the powers and pressures of globalization for our own tsunami, utilizing the tools that had the potential to destroy us for our own liberation. All people, men and women alike, have the choice to join in our struggle. Women's equality is becoming its own tidal wave, sweeping the globe and changing the course of human existence. Resistance would only be condemning one's self to gasp for air as the waters take their course. So it behooves us all to go with the flow and do what we can to ride the next wave as we are all engulfed by the sea of enlightenment, emancipation, and equality. And once we as women have attained our rightful place the world over, I couldn't imagine a better place to be living than the global village.

Notes
1. from the Bahai Writings: The Bab, quoted in The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, p. 245
2. from the Bahai Writings: Abdul-Baha, quoted in Women, p. 13

(all content Copyright National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 2000-2003, do not use without permission)