From the Effects of Globalization on Women to Women’s Agency in Globalization

Abstract

The article reviews current literature about the effects and challenges of globalization on the lives of women worldwide. While, on the one hand, globalization has increased opportunities for women, on the other hand its capacity to significantly reduce gender inequalities remains unmet. Moreover, globalization affects women differently in different parts of the world and some women (poor/marginalized women in affluent nations; women of the Global South) are more vulnerable than others. The paper further reflects on how global feminism is discussing globalization and addressing the challenges associated with its multi-dimensional nature, and on the role of transnational feminist movements in advancing women’s rights and gender equality issues beyond the nation-state.