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Women Reinventing Globalisation Women Reinventing Globalisation Edited by Joanna Kerr and Caroline Sweetman Oxfam Focus on Gender The books in Oxfam's Focus on Gender series were originally published as single issues of the journal Gender and Development, which is published by Oxfam three times a year. It is the only European journal to focus specifically on gender and development issues internationally, to explore the links between gender and development initiatives, and to make the links between theoretical and practical work in this field. For information about subscription rates, please apply to Taylor and Francis Ltd., Customer Services Department, Rankine Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG24 8PR UK; Fax: + 44 (0) 1256 330245. In North America, please apply to Taylor and Francis Inc., Customer Services Department, 325 Chestnut Street, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA; Fax +1 800 821 8312. In Australia, please apply to Carfax Publishing Company, P.O. Box 352, Cammeray, NSW 2062, Australia; Fax: +61 (0) 2 9958 2376; [email protected]; www.tandf.co.uk/journals All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the Publisher. The views expressed in this book are those of the individual contributors, and not necessarily those of the Editor or the Publisher. Front cover: China, near Shenzen. Migrant labourers from inland provinces working in a toy factory producing dolls. Photo: Mark Henley/ Panos Pictures © Oxfam GB 2003 Published by Oxfam GB, 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DZ, UK www.oxfam.org.uk / publications Typeset in Palatino by Oxfam; printed by Information Press, Eynsham Oxfam is a registered charity No. 202918 Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International ISBN 0 85598 492 9 This book converted to digital file in 2010 Contents Editorial 3 Joanna Kerr and Caroline Sweetman I The economics of globalisation Gender budgets and beyond: feminist fiscal policy in the context of globalisation 15 Nilufer Cagatay Feminist responses to economic globalisation: some examples of past and future practice 25 Ruth Pearson Counting for something! Recognising women's contribution to the global economy through alternative accounting systems 35 Marilyn Waring African women challenging neo-liberal economic orthodoxy: the conception and mission of the GERA programme 44 Zo Randriamaro In search of an alternative development paradigm: feminist proposals from Latin America 52 Members of the Feminist Initiative of Cartagena If I were Minister of Finance...: gaining understanding of financial crisis through a simulation workshop 59 Mehrene Larudee and Caren Grown II Globalisation as politics Fundamentalisms, globalisation, and women's human rights in Senegal 69 Fatou Sow A daring proposal: campaigning for an inter-American convention on sexual rights and reproductive rights 77 Valeria Pandjiarjian Free markets and state control: a feminist challenge to Davos Man and Big Brother 82 Mona Danner and Gay Young Using the master's tools: feminism, media and ending violence against women 91 Sanya Sarnavka III Specific issues of global concern Strategic advocacy and maternal mortality: moving targets and the millennium development goals 97 Lynn Freedman HIV/AIDS, globalisation and the international women's movement 109 Sisonke Msimang New genetic technologies and their impact on women: a feminist perspective 114 Lisa Handwerker Trafficking and women's human rights in a globalised world 125 Pamela Shifman IV Building a global voice to protect women's rights The women's movement in the era of globalisation: does it face extinction? 135 Andrea Medina Rosas and Shamillah Wilson Institutions, organisations and gender equality in an era of globalisation 142 Aruna Rao and David Kelleher Resources 150 Compiled by Ruth Evans Publications 150 Electronic resources 152 Briefing kits 154 Journals 154 Organisations 155 Videos 156 Conferences 157 Editorial Joanna Kerr and Caroline Sweetman 'The world's giant transnational corporations, gender equality movement. Yet there was and the governments and multilateral clear agreement on the major analysis: institutions that cling to them, are globalising globalisation processes, in their current the wrong things, things that are of benefit to form, are a threat to the gains women have them and no one else. And they're refusing made over the past three decades, in to globalise the right things, which would struggling for an end to poverty and equal benefit all of us.' status and rights with men: in their families, (Jorquera, 2000) the community and the state. As shown in this collection of articles, radical action is 'Globalise this - women's rights now.' needed, if globalisation is to be re-routed (AWID Forum, 2002) down a just and sustainable path. In this brief editorial we will distinguish This collection of articles comes from the between two interpretations of what Association for Women's Rights in globalisation actually means: a largely Development (AWID)'s Ninth International technical process, and one that is inherently Forum, on Reinventing Globalisation. The political. The phenomenon of globalisation Forum was held in Guadalajara, Mexico, needs to be demystified if we are to work from 3-6 October 2002. The collection was a together to challenge its current course. We collaborative effort between AWID and will go on to outline the connections Oxfam GB. It has been jointly edited by between globalisation and gender inequality. Joanna Kerr, Executive Director of AWID, Finally, we introduce each article in this and Caroline Sweetman, of Oxfam GB. collection, and consider how its writer The goal of the Forum was to under- addresses the key issue: that is, how should stand globalisation and its impact on we turn gender analysis of globalisation women's rights and gender relations better, into action for social change? and to pinpoint ways in which we can But first, here are a few words to mobilise to ensure these complex processes introduce AWID. can guarantee human rights, development and peace for all. Obviously, there were Introducing AWID many different takes on globalisation, what it is and what it is doing, from different AWID began its life in 1982, as a member- individuals and organisations at the AWID ship organisation offering support, and a Forum. This range reflects the overall forum for discussion for policymakers, diversity to be found within the feminist/ practitioners and academics promoting gender equality in developing countries. mainstream economists, or your local IT Since then, AWID has grown in both size provider, use the word 'globalisation' in a and scope, to become the dynamic network technical, rather than a political way, to of thousands of women and men working refer to the increasing ease with which in development research, policy and people can communicate and do business practice that it is today. More than half of internationally. This means that inter- AWID's members live and work in the national financial transactions can be global South, Eastern Europe and the executed in a split second, changing the fate former Soviet Union. AWID aims to of national economies overnight. Events facilitate ongoing debates about funda- unfolding in Asia can be beamed into living mental and provocative issues, as well as to rooms in South America in the course of a build the individual and organisational few minutes. capacity of those working for women's Some critics of globalisation see these empowerment and social justice. new technologies as being inherently bad The AWID Forum occurs every three for human rights and the sustainable years, and is the largest regular inter- development of the planet. They decry the national meeting focusing on women and way in which global technologies promote gender equality outside the United Nations an international Western-dominated culture system. It has become a key event for of consumerism and capitalist develop- feminists in development. In Guadalajara, ment. They emphasise that the most around 1,300 leaders, scholars, and appropriate, just and fair economic and practitioners gathered to consider not only political decision-making is made at local the economic, but also the political, social, level, by women and men who have full ecological and cultural implications of knowledge of the realities of the social and globalisation. In more than 150 workshops, cultural context. plenaries, skills-building sessions and In contrast, some opponents of global- debates, they discussed their experiences of isation can see the potential of the new current models of globalisation of the technologies for change that benefits economy and the political system, and people. For example, they believe that if debated viable alternatives to the unsus- free trade was genuinely free and tainable, undemocratic, and exploitative protectionism was lifted in the global forms that globalisation has taken so far. North, developing countries would poten- tially be able to challenge global inequality. Women around the world could benefit What is globalisation? from buying food, clothing, or computers at Reams of paper and thousands of key- cheaper prices. Another example, which is strokes have been expended in theoretical often pointed out by feminists, is that of the debates about globalisation. But the potential of the Internet to build a new and concerns of the readers - and writers - of this genuinely participatory kind of democracy. collection of articles are about formulating Using the
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