The Realities of Globalization

Globalization has given people many promises about the economy, modernization and development (Ghosh). It has been considered the right thing to do for underdeveloped nations. International trade and participation in the global economy are presented as the new means for finding economic prosperity and development (Ghosh). G-8 nations give loans to third and second world nations in order to finance modernization. In turn, the undeveloped nations follow the requirements and recommendations given them by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Transnational corporations then are safe and motivated to invest in development in the undeveloped nations. In this manner, the undeveloped nation experiences economic success and development. This process is presented as bringing prosperity to the undeveloped nations (Padilla & Ghosh). Yet upon further analysis, it becomes clear that globalization benefits corporations, individuals and developed nations.

The reality about the relationship between the undeveloped nations and the developed nations in the globalization process is that undeveloped nations gain little and lose much. This has been seen in the collapse of the global economies in South East Asian and East Asian countries that have participated in becoming globalized markets. Privatization has created a loss of water as a right and a resource for nations and turned it into a resource for international corporations regardless of national boundaries (429 Shiva). Furthermore, India has experienced similar problems and an increase in females returning to independent rural subsistence (Ghosh). Yet, this process has been going on longer than internationalism; it is an outgrowth of colonial relationships between nations including the problems of racism, militarism and oppression (Shaffer & Shiva). The classifications of nations as second and third world is racist in that second and third are categories of inferiority in comparison to the superiority of first and G-8 classifications. More important than internationalism and the ideologies involved is the economic status of nations. The collapse of the globalized economies of South Asia and South East Asia demonstrate the failure of globalization. The failure of private companies such as Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and other companies demonstrates the ineffectiveness of privatization as an aspect of globalization unless corporate take over is the goal (431-3 Shiva). Furthermore, the increasing ruralization of females into subsistence farming in India demonstrates the failure of globalization in their economy. Upon analysis, the myth of globalism has benefited international corporations at the expense of second and third world nations (Ghosh: 394 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey & Padilla).

Business and making a profit are the basis of the decisions made by transnational corporations. The ideologies of a free market and John Smith's capitalism are the underlying beliefs that influence these business decisions that have resulted in the polarization of the labor market into a global North and South and the loss of the rights of nations over their own resources (430-1 Shiva). Supply and demand are a major aspect of the polarization of the labor force and market based on perceived demand for products as opposed to development in the nations themselves (393 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). The inequalities established during colonial times have continued into present times based primarily on the beliefs that the Western European model of government and business are superior and that other models are inferior. The basis of the Western European model of beliefs are individualism and the free market. Unfortunately, a free market is considered more important than issues of humanity, social service or human suffering (393 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey: 431-3 Shiva). Finally, the problems of race, class, ethnicity, nationalism and gender discrimination from colonialism are still visible in a globalized economy (398 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey).

Many undeveloped nations have taken loans from developed nations in order to invest in becoming modernized and improving living conditions in their nations (398 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). This banking arrangement is a continuation of the colonial relationship and called neo-colonialism (398 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey).

The IMF at this point requires the debtor nations to follow ten guidelines for loan approval. These guidelines include lowering taxes, lowering government spending on social services, subsidies and infrastructure, producing exportable crops (like bananas), privatization of national businesses, lower tariffs, lowering the value of the national

currency internationally and deregulation of the employment environment. The amount of debt that has grown in many undeveloped nations has become too large to repay. This puts them at the mercy of the bank and the loaning nations. The people in charge of the banks and trade organizations are educated into the free market concepts as a priority over human issues concepts at prestigious schools in the global North. Therefore, the repayments of loans are more important than the human costs in these debtor nations. As a result, the lifestyles of the populations involved in globalizing economies have suffered under a loss of national sovereignty, services, infrastructure decay and a loss of buying power due to the economic stresses of paying back their loans (398-9 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey &Ghosh: 429-34 Shiva). The combination of IMF guidelines and globalization subjugates the undeveloped nations in the process until they are turned into a pool of cheap commodities, resources and a desperate labor force (Ghosh:429-34 Shiva).

The consequences of globalization in terms of human suffering have been felt primarily in the labor forces of undeveloped nations. The cycle seen in S. E. Asian and East Asian economies has been one of initial economic activity and eventual collapse after export profits have been realized (Ghosh). Approximately, ninety percent of the labor force in globalizing undeveloped nations in the lower paying lower skill level jobs are young females (407-8 Fernandez-Kelly: 388-390 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). Females hold the majority of clothing manufacturing and other low paying jobs. They are considered more docile and easier to fire based on life circumstances. They must compete for low paying jobs that do not provide essential equipment as in the garment jobs in South America. Many factory seam-stresses have lumbago from not being provided adequate chairs for their jobs. Instead, they must use cheap concessions chairs and bring their own pillows to the job. Furthermore, they are pressured to meet high quotas under the stress of losing bonuses for their supervisors (414-16 Fernandez-Kelly). Motherhood and pregnancy are frequently reasons for not being hired or for being fired for persons in this field (410-13 Fernandez-Kelly). In conclusion, Young females and their children are the ones most at risk in terms of human suffering due to market fluctuations and the lack of social services during the economic collapse of globalizing economies (407-8 Fernandez-Kelly: Ghosh).

The requirements given by the IMF, the World Bank, the GATT agreement and the World Trade Organization together create an environment in undeveloped nations that puts undue stress on females and children. The labor market in developing nations becomes a survival situation due to the cutbacks in government sponsored services and subsidies. This aspect and the deregulation of the employment environment place employees at the mercy of the market and their employers in an imbalanced power struggle (399 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). Many undeveloped nations have created business zones for export processing or Export Processing Zones, EPZs, in order to have areas that are free from regulation or government control. These zones attract transnational corporations, TNCs, for the sake of doing business free from hindrances. Laborers must enter these zones for their employment and experience oppressive environments that are controlled by the corporations and superiors. The lack of regulations benefits the corporations at the expense of the laborers that are primarily young females (Padilla). They have temporary jobs that are low paying, offer no benefits and no employee rights. Yet, they are still competitive as in the garment jobs in the maquiladoras. In the maquiladoras, it is important to know a person in the business and or have job experience even for the low paying jobs. Many people apply for the few positions that are open for hiring. (407-8 Fernandez-Kelly: 388 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey: Padilla).

The United States is a developed G-8 nation that loans money to undeveloped nations through the globalization process (400-1 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). This makes the US one of the benefiting nations in the process. Undeveloped nations use 14 percent of the earth's resources at the same time that developed nations are using 86 percent of the earth's resources (394 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). As an individual in the US, I hold a dual position in this relationship between nations. On one hand, I am a member of a benefiting or receiving nation that gains in the globalization process in terms of profits, resources and commodities. On the other hand, I am a female that is influenced by the oppressive strategies utilized by international corporations against labor forces in other nations that are primarily female. Therefore, I must see myself as benefiting by the availability of inexpensive merchandise and commodities that I purchase to live. At the same time though, I am oppressed by increasingly stilted labor practices in the US due to

the competitiveness of the job market and my place in it as a female that is suitable for low paying and low skill level jobs. Upon reflection, the United States is a G-8 nation that has aspects of the problems faced by undeveloped nations in it at the same time (390-4 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). In conclusion, it is as if the US has become a benefiting nation and a subjugated nation at the same time (399 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey).

The manufactured goods from undeveloped nations or the global South are imported and sold in the US and other global North nations at a lower cost than they are able to be produced in the US or the global North. This is a double-edged sword in that jobs have been lost in the US and other global North nations and the benefits of former female activities of making goods for domestic use have become pointless in terms of saving money or making money from home based production of goods unless it is just a hobby. I know I learned how to sew, knit, crochet, needlepoint and embroider from my grandmother that made her own clothes and other items in her home. I have done these things myself. However, I realized that it is cheaper to pick things up in the store in most cases in terms of time and money than it is to make them myself. It is not realistic for me to expect to do these activities for profit either since it is cheaper to purchase imports at the store than the profitable sales price of anything I made. To me, it is as if the skills I learned as a child are obsolete now due to the international trade market. It is as if my options are limited to getting a job or starting a business outside my home using skills I have learned in school. The skills I learned from my parents and grandparents at home are nearly valueless and being a "stay at home" mom or spouse has become a rare opportunity. Furthermore, labor conditions in the US have become more competitive in the unskilled and manufacturing jobs due to the decrease in their number (407 Fernandez-Kelly: 390-1 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). My point of view on this is I am experiencing similar labor problems that females in undeveloped nations are experiencing as they do their best to survive from a nearly powerless position in the labor market.

Not being part of the Global North and Global South economic relationship is difficult, in my opinion. The goods and commodities that are imported to the US such as produce, electronic equipment and clothing are inexpensive compared to making my own items or purchasing from US made products, if there are any available. This makes me

indirectly a supporter of the global economy by spending money on products from the global South. Yet, finding other options is impossible or difficult and more expensive especially if one has a lower income. Individuals in the US are in a sense locked into this relationship if they agree to the terms or not. For this reason, it is important to be politically active about trade issues, labor issues internationally and women's rights internationally. A few groups address issues internationally for the sake of women's rights such as the Women's Environment and Development Organization that analyzes nation's progress towards better labor laws (403 Kirk and Okazawa-Rey). Lastly, my position on these issues has been one of unawareness for the most part until recently. Now that I am more informed about the problems females and children face due to internationalism, I feel that political activity in supporting better labor agreements and more regulations for corporations internationally is important.

Works Cited

* I used MLA full text citations for the electronic transmissions since they do not include page numbers or paragraph numbers in their text.
Fernandez-Kelly, Maria. "Maquiladoras the View From Inside" (1984). Women's Lives:Multicultural Perspective. (2002). 4th edition. McGraw Hil. (ISBN: 0-07- 352941-9)
Ghosh, Jayati. "Globalization and Women's Employment in Asia." Women in Action 22+, Number 2, 1999. Searchit, Distance Degree Library Services. Washington State University Library. 7 April 2008
Kirk and Okazawa-Rey. "Living in a Global Economy."(387-405) Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspective. (2002). 4th edition. McGraw Hil. (ISBN: 0-07-352941- 9).
Padilla, Cherry. "Export Processing Zones and Their Effects on Women." InternationalPeace Update, 64 (4): 1999. Searchit, Distance Degree Library Services.
Washington State University Library. 2 April 2008

Shaffer, Robert. "Women and International Relations: Pearl S Buck's Critique of the Cold War:" [Part 1 of 3]. (1999) Journal of Women's History (ISSN: 1042-7961). Searchit, Distance Degree Library Services. Washington State University Library. 7 April 2008

Shiva, Vandana. " The World Bank, WTO and Corporate Control Over Water" (429-34). Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspective. (2002). 4th edition. McGraw Hil. (ISBN: 0-07-352941-9).