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FRIHUMSAM-Fri prosj.st. hum og sam

Localizing Globalization: Gendered Transformations of Work in Developing Economies

Awarded: NOK 4.6 mill.

The overall aim of this interdisciplinary project is to investigate and compare how global flows of capital and goods shape local labour markets in different developing economies, and to study how these changes affect the way in which employment patterns, work forms and relations within households are gendered. Through five case studies in Indonesia, Ethiopia, Peru and Ghana, the project aims to generate knowledge at two levels; i) empirical investigation of local gendered consequences of economic globali zation, such as the gendering of changing labour markets and new work opportunities. This first goal is achieved through fieldwork and interviews in each case study locality. ii) Comparative and theoretical reflection on the mutual material and ideologica l construction of local gender principles and globally transmitted gendered values, producing new forms of subjectivities and agency. Gender equality is at the heart of ILO's ten year campaign on 'decent work'. However, globalization is neither a 'fair' n or a gender neutral process. Corporate or market-led economic growth come with gendered structures that affect how women and men's can access new forms of employment, and various cultural constructed gender models shape the local division of labour betwee n the sexes. This project aims to identify the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion in the local labour market and the principles at work in producing these cultural specific dynamics. This can reveal processes involved in the shaping of different forms of 'localization' and give us a better understanding of the production of difference in the new world of work. Key questions; In what ways do gender structure new employment opportunities and labour markets? To what extent do changes in employment affect ge nder relatirelations within the household? Do new opportunities for women and men in the labour market change gender ideologies in local communities? Do new labour opportunities create or change social differences?

Funding scheme:

FRIHUMSAM-Fri prosj.st. hum og sam