Globalization tends to have rather detrimental effects on the lives of women, especially working class women. Generally speaking, as women in developing countries increasingly work outside the home, (albiet often for low wages, inability to unionize and poor working conditions) we see a shift in the part that women play within the economy and culture.

According to this article, migrant women are sending more money home to their country of origin then men, thusly contributing more to the economy.

A recent United Nations Population Fund report shows that Gutierrez is not alone. Although female immigrants generally earn less than men, they tend to send home a larger portion of their earnings, playing an important role in poverty reduction and development in their countries of origin and upending many traditional mores.

According to the report, titled "A Passage to Hope: Women and International Migration," they send up to three-quarters of their income home, contributing substantially to the approximately $232 billion the World Bank estimates was transferred last year to immigrants' countries of origin.

The question is, is this really a good thing? Migrant women tend to be working in abusive conditions and are almost always underpaid. I mean it is great that they are able to work and send home money. But the deeper issue of why these women are so poorly treated and underpaid, remains unanswered.

via AP.

1 Comments

September 14, 2006 1:59 PM

[0+]  MeiPassion said:

Hmmm.....that's interesting,it seems that these migrant women are contributing to the reduction of poverty in some parts of the world, but the cost seems to be that these women have to leave their homes and families and work in bad conditions. It's a double edged sword in my opinion.

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