Northern Arizona University
Women’s and Gender Studies
WGS 360 # 5058
Women and Globalization
Spring 2011
Instructor: Chineze J. Onyejekwe
Social and Behavioral Sciences West (SBS West), Room 104
Office Hours: Tuesday 3-4p.m.or by appointment
Class meetings: TuTh 12:45p.m.- 2 p.m.
Phone: 928-523-5560
E-mail:
1/11/2010 - 5/7/2010
Course Description
The world has integrated as never before and this process known as ‘globalization’ has many implications for gender analysis. This course therefore focuses on both the positive/advantages and negative/detrimental effects of the “global village” on women, especially in the developing world. Major topics include instant global communication and media issues of concern to women such as advertising, multi-national/transnational businesses, economic liberalization policies and the ethics of the global economy especially as it relates to women workers, violence against women, global mobility, human trafficking and the critical issues of the global sex industry, women’s health, poverty, HIV/AIDS, the empowering nature of new technological innovations such as the New Reproductive technologies (NRTs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), justice, the environment, and the greater role of women in decision-making.
Course Objectives
Meeting the essential skills of critical thinking and effective writing.The specific objectives of this course are:
1. To understand the challenges women face in the globalization process, especially in the developing world such as greater insecurity and hardship, and the efforts to overcome them through the empowerment of women.
2. To highlight the fact the gender analysis is essential for defining a fairer globalization thereby seek alternatives, to this process - globalization.
3. To seek and end to poverty and violence associated with this process.
4. To demand justice and full human rights for women everywhere.
5. Discuss and critically examine the evolution of concepts of gender, development, and globalization and their underlying assumptions.
6. Comprehend the impacts of the international development agenda and globalization on the lives of women and men in different political and social contexts.
7. Discuss how factors such as the global economy, policy implementation, and management of natural resources intersect and affect gender relations.
8. Comprehend why gender inequality affects the opportunities and benefits that women can obtain from development programs and the globalized economy.
9. Describe the international legal framework that pertains to women’s human rights.
10. To share insights about lessons learned: what has worked, and what has been less successful. What issues policymakers in development organizations and national governments should be made aware of.
11. There will be opportunities to improve both communication (effective) and analytical (critical) skills through participation in class and small group discussions, and oral presentations.
Course Structure
This course underscored the central importance of focusing development efforts on advancing gender equalityunderscored the central importance of focusing development efforts on advancing gender equality underscored the central importance of focusing development efforts on advancing gender equality underscored the central importance of focusing development efforts on advancing gender equality underscored the central importance of focusing development efforts on advancing gender equality brings together the concepts and understanding of the centrality of women's rights and roles in development, through the examination of the various issues related to gender inequality in the developing world.
The class meets once a week and will combine lectures and discussions, and students are expected to participate actively in class discussions. Relevant articles will also be given out to students for analysis, and further discussions.
Course Requirements
Required Books
Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books.
Chineze J. Onyejekwe (2009) Readings in Gender and Development: Engendering National and Global Policies. San Diego, California: University Readers, Inc.
Required Course Readings
Because I am A Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2007 [online] URL: http://www.plan-international.org/pdfs/becauseiamagirl.pdf
Other required publications and articles are located on the Internet, and the websites are provided to the students for download before each class. Relevant materials will also be deposited/reserved for students in the library.
Methods of Assessment
Attendance/Class Participation
Students are expected to attend classes as well as participate in class discussions. Students are also expected to respect everyone’s opinion as time will be taken to address current issues relevant to women and development, and individual student’s attitudes and thoughts on the issues discussed.
Reactions
Each student will be asked to give a formally written personal reaction to class discussions and readings, monthly monthly – This is a response to the question given out by the instructor at the end of each month.
Length: four type-written, double-spaced pages (Times New Roman, 12) – Not more. Submission date: first week of every month.
Some writing tips
· Try to use easy to understand language.
· Make short sentences.
· Be concise.
· Add sufficient detail and refer to the literature, but avoid over detailed descriptions.
· Provide a detailed bibliography.
Citation and referencing:
No preferred form for citation and referencing. The style is left to the student. The only requirement is that the student be consistent throughout the essay.
Marking scheme based on:
(i) Understanding key concepts associated with the topic
(ii) Organization and language clarity: good grammar/clear English and arranging work systematically
(iii) Critical analysis: adding sufficient detail, and effective analysis of women’s experiences with globalization
(iv) Making reference to relevant literature
(iv) Providing a detailed bibliography
Plagiarism: We shall follow the NAU policy on plagiarism!
Reflective/Final Essay
Reflective/final essay: a major component of WGS 360 is designed in such a way that it not only tests the student's articulation of key issues discussed in class, but also to find out how he/she has made an independent effort to understand the course material.
*This is a response to the question given out by the instructor at the end of the semester.
Length: 8-10 type-written, double-spaced pages (Times New Roman, 12). Not more!
Grade Disbursement
Class attendance/Participation 30%
Monthly writings 45%
Reflective/final Essay 25%
Grading Scale
A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 59% and below
Course Calendar and Readings
WEEK 1 (January 18): Introduction – What is Globalization
Delia D. Aguilar “Introduction.” In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 11-23.
Globalization 101.org “What is Globalization?” [online] URL:
http://www.globalization101.org/What_is_Globalization.html?PHPSESSID=830d31be3566d434989124e94ed78239
WEEK 1 (January 20): Gender and Global Media/Advertising
Onyejekwe (2009) Advertisingand the Exploitation of Female Sexuality,” pp. 115-118.
The Levine Institute “Is Beauty Globalized?” 5 December 2010. [online] URL:
http://www.globalization101.org/news1/beauty_globalization
Globalization 101.org
[online] URL: http://www.globalization101.org/uploads/File/Culture/cultall2009.pdf
The Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) 2010 Report Who Makes the News? September. [online] URL:
http://www.whomakesthenews.org/images/stories/website/gmmp_reports/2010/gmmp_2010_preliminary.pdf
Philippe Legrain, "Cultural Globalization Is Not Americanization," The Chronicle Review, 9 May 2003.[online] URL: chronicle.com/free/v49/i35/35b00701.htm, acc. 11 Oct 2008
WEEK 2: (January 25): Internet Governance and Women’s Rights
Onyejekwe (2009) The Internet and the Commercialization of Sex: A Gender Perspective,” pp. 107-114.
Masum Momaya “What is Internet Governance? And why does it matter for women’s rights?” AWID, 17 December 2009. [online] URL: http://www.awid.org/eng/Issues-and-Analysis/Issues-and-Analysis/What-is-Internet-Governance-And-why-does-it-matter-for-women-s-rights
WEEK 2 (January 27): New Reproductive Technologies (NRTs) and Women’s Rights
Wendy Chavkin "Biology and Destiny: Women, Work, Birthrates, and Assisted Reproductive Technologies." In Carolyn Elliot (ed.), Global Empowerment of Women: Responses to Globalization and Politicized Religion. New York: Routledge, pp. 77-99. *Available on VISTA!
AWID Gender Equality and New Technologies. 16/03/2009. [online] URL: http://www.awid.org/eng/Issues-and-Analysis/Library/Gender-Equality-and-New-Technologies*Available on VISTA.
http://www.youthcoalition.org/DEV/mambo2/images/stories/SRRGUIDE/srr%20guide%20final%20version.pdf
WEEK 3 (February 1): Reproductive Rights Matters: Cosmetic Surgery, Body Image and Sexuality
Onyejekwe (2009) “Roe v. Wade: Abortion and the Issue of Choice or Reproductive Rights.” pp. 89-93.
Angie Rankman “Obsessed With Beauty: The Rush To Cosmetic Surgery,” Aphrodite Womens Health, 7 October 2005. [online] URL: http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/news/cosmetic_surgery.shtml
Claudia Ahumada & Shannon Kowalski-Morton (2006) “A Youth Activist’s Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Rights.” [online] URL:
WEEK 3 (February 3): Women, Global Warming and Climate Change
UN News Center “SEAL THE DEAL: Climate Change Aggravates Gender Inequality – UN,” 18 November 2009. [online] URL: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33005&Cr=climate+change&Cr1=
UN News Center “UN Disaster Expert Knows First-hand What Copenhagen Failure Could Entail,” 20 November 2009. [online] URL: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33031&Cr=climate+change&Cr1=disaster#
WEEK 4 (February 8): Population, Gender and Climate Change
Robert Engelman “Summary: Population, Climate Change, and Women's Lives,” Worldwatch Report, online URL: http://www.worldwatch.org/PopulationClimateWomen
Population Action International (22 April 2010) Population and Climate Data Sheet. [online] URL:
http://www.populationaction.org/Publications/Fact_Sheets/climate-datasheet/climate_datasheet.pdf
Roger-Mark De Souza "The Integration Imperative: How to Improve Development Programs by Linking Population, Health, and Environment," ECSP Focus Issue 19.
[online] URL: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/Focus_19_DeSouza.pdf
BMJ “Population, Gender and Climate Change: Improving Access to Family Planning Services and Promoting Sexual Equality are the Priority,” Volume 339, 21 November 2009. [online] URL: http://populationaction.org/PDFs/64703.pdf
Aklilu Kidanu, Kimberly Rovin and Karen Hardee (3 December 2009) Linking Population, Fertility and Family Planning with Adaptation to Climate Change: Views from Ethiopia. [online] URL: http://www.populationaction.org/Issues/Population_and_Climate_Change/EthioCCS2009.pdf
Why Family Planning Matters excerpted with permission from The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs, Population Reports, Series J, No. 49, Baltimore, MD, July 1999. [online] URL:http://www.jhuccp.org/pr/j49edsum.stm.
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) [online] URL: http://www.unfpa.org/icpd/icpd.htm
Why Family Planning Matters excerpted with permission from The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs, Population Reports, Series J, No. 49, Baltimore, MD, July 1999. [online] URL:http://www.jhuccp.org/pr/j49edsum.stm.
WEEK 4 (February 10): Migration in the context of Globalization: Women’s Human Rights at Risk
National Geographic “What is Human Migration?” [online] URL: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/g68/migrationguidestudent.pdf
State of World Population 2006: A Passage of Hope: Women and International Migration. [online] URL:http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2006/english/chapter_1/figure1.html
Watch Video: Bride Trafficking Unveiled
ON CURRENT TV, 1 April 2010.
[online] URL: http://current.com/groups/on-current-tv/92357386_bride-trafficking-unveiled.htm
WEEK 5 (February 15): Transnational Transfer of Genderized Labor
Arlie Russell Hochschild (2002) “Love and Gold” In Barabara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild, pp. 15-30. *Available on VISTA.
Bridget Anderson (2002) “Just Another Job? The Commodification of Domestic Labor.’ In Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell, pp. 104-114. *Available on VISTA.
Sandy Smith-Nonini “Sticking to the Union: Anthropologists and “Union Maids” in San Francisco.” In Nandini Gunewardena & Ann Kingsolver (eds), The Gender of Globalization: Women Navigating Cultural and Economic Marginalities. 2008. School for Advanced Research, pp. 197-214. *Available on VISTA!
Rhacel Salazar Parrenas “Geographies of Race and Class: The Place and Placelessness of Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers.” In Nandini Gunewardena & Ann Kingsolver (eds), The Gender of Globalization: Women Navigating Cultural and Economic Marginalities. 2008. School for Advanced Research, pp. 171-195. *Available on VISTA!
WEEK 5 (February 17): Migration as Modern Day Slavery/ Abuses against Domestic Workers
Joy M. Zarembka (2002) “America’s Dirty Work: Migrant Maids and Modern-Day Slavery.” In Barbara Erhenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild, pp. 142-153.
Human Rights Watch (2008) “As If I Am Not Human” *Section on Abuses against Domestic Workers. [online] URL: http://hrw.org/reports/2008/saudiarabia0708/1.htm#_Toc201663352
WEEK 6 (February 22): Trafficking of Women and Girls
Onyejekwe (2009) “Influences of Global Human Trafficking Issues on Nigeria: A Gender Perspective,” pp. 45-58.
Onyejekwe (2009) Trafficking in Women Migrants: Issues of Concern in South Asia,” pp. 59-71.
Polaris Project “Combating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery.” [online] URL:http://www.humantrafficking.com/polarisproject/trafficking_p3/trafficking.htm
Melissa Ditmore and Andrea Ritchie's “Time for Change in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.” RHRealityCheck.org, 26 January 2009. [online] URL:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/01/23/the-right-time-change-fight-against-human-trafficking
WEEK 6 (February 24): Women and Sex Work
Anne E. Lacsamana “Sex Workers or Prostituted Woman? An Examination of the Sex Work Debates in the Western Feminist Theory,” In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 387-403.
Denise Brennan (2002) “Selling Sex for Visas: Sex Tourism as a Stepping-Stone to International Migration.” In Barbara Erhenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild, pp. 154-168. *Available on VISTA!
C. Jenkins (March 2006) Violence and Exposure to HIV Among Sex Workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. USA Agency for International Development (USAID). [online] URL:
http://www.nswp.org/pdf/JENKINS-CAMBODIA.PDF
Polaris Project “Combating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery.” [online] URL: http://www.humantrafficking.com/polarisproject/trafficking_p3/trafficking.htm
WEEK 7 (March 1): Women and Global Poverty
Onyejekwe (2009) “A Review of Developmental Approaches to Poverty Reduction: A Gender Perspective.” pp. 119-134.
Nilüfer Cagatay “Gender and Poverty.” United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), May 1998. [online] URL: http://www.iknowpolitics.org/files/Gender%20and%20Poverty.pdf
Because I am A Girl: The State of the World’s Girls 2007 [online] URL: http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0002604/index.php
OR http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0002604/State_of_worlds_girls_Plan_2007.pdf *Chapters 5.
Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2010 - Digital and Urban Frontier 2010. [online] URL:
http://plan-international.org/girls/resources/digital-and-urban-frontiers-2010.php
http://plan-international.org/girls/static/docs/BIAAG_2010_ExecutiveSummary.pdf
http://plan-international.org/girls/static/docs/BIAAG_2010_EN2.pdf
WEEK 7 (March 3): Neo-liberal Globalization and Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPS)
Nancy Wiegersma “The Restructuring and Privatization of Women’s Industries in Nicaragua.”In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 68-89.
Grace Chang “Globalization in Living Color.” In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 234-261.
Onyejekwe (2009) “Economic Globalization and the Free Market Ethos: A Gender Perspective,” pp. 5-9.
William L. Conwill “Neoliberal Policy as Structural Violence: Its Links to Domestic Violence in Black Communities in the United States.” In Nandini Gunewardena & Ann Kingsolver (eds), The Gender of Globalization: Women Navigating Cultural and Economic Marginalities. 2008. School for Advanced Research, pp. 127-146. *Available on VISTA!
Barbara Sutton “Gendered Bodily Scars of Neoliberal Globalization in Argentina.” In Nandini Gunewardena & Ann Kingsolver (eds), The Gender of Globalization: Women Navigating Cultural and Economic Marginalities. 2008. School for Advanced Research, pp. 147-168. *Available on VISTA!
Nandini Gunewardena “Disrupting and Negotiating Belonging: Women Workers in the Transnational Production Sites of Sri lanka.” In Nandini Gunewardena & Ann Kingsolver (eds), The Gender of Globalization: Women Navigating Cultural and Economic Marginalities. 2008. School for Advanced Research, pp. 35-60. *Available on VISTA!
Watch Video: Maquilapolis –City of Factories
WEEK 8 (March 8): Women, Work and Economic Globalization
Rohana Ariffin “Globalization and Its Impact on Women Workers in Malaysia.” In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 25-51.
April Ane Knutson “Haitian Women in the New World Order.” In Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004) Women and Globalization. Amherst, New York: Humanity Books, pp. 154-180.
.Delia D. Aguilar and Anne E. Lacsamana (2004), pp. 90-119.
Onyejekwe (2009) “Economic Globalization, Flexible Labor and Women Home-based Workers,” pp. 11-16.
Bethan Emmett (March 2009) Women Workers Pay the Price for the Global Economic Crisis. Oxfam GB. [online] URL: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/policy/economic_crisis/downloads/impact_economic_crisis_women.pdf