The ‘Feminization’ of the Everyday: Examining the Gendered Nature of Worker Resistance within the Transnational Call Center Industry by Stephanie M. Redden A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science with Specialization in Political Economy Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2016 Stephanie M. Redden ! Abstract This dissertation explores the complex relationships that exist between gender, everyday forms of worker agency and resistance, and the global political economy. I argue that the gendered division of labour within the global political economy has led to the development of gendered opportunity structures of worker resistance. Further, by gendering James C. Scott’s conception of a ‘spectrum of resistance’ (Tripp 1997, p.5; Scott 1993, p.93-94), I assert that the gendered opportunity structures of worker resistance within the Canadian transnational call center can be usefully mapped and interrogated. With women increasingly taking on some of the most precarious jobs in the global economy it has become more difficult for them to pursue more overt and collective forms of action and resistance. Thus, this dissertation examines the role that everyday forms of worker resistance play in challenging unjust and unfair management practices within the highly feminized transnational call center industry, and what significance these actions have for challenging or even disrupting the global political economy. In doing so, the dissertation builds on Scott's foundational work on 'everyday forms of resistance', as well as existing feminist IR and IPE scholarship concerned with the everyday as a central site of analysis. Ultimately this dissertation suggests that in addition to discussing the ‘feminization’ of certain workforces, it is also necessary to begin discussing the feminization of certain forms of worker resistance as well (Ustubici 2009)—in particular, those forms of resistance which are of a more everyday nature. Additionally, this dissertation presents an explicitly feminist model of ‘everyday IPE’ (which I refer to as a feminist everyday politics of the global economy, or FEPGE, approach) that builds on Hobson and Seabrooke’s (2007) ‘EIPE’ framework, but which allows for a more nuanced ! ii understanding of the relationship between gender, everyday actions and resistance, and the international to be brought to light. ! iii Acknowledgements This dissertation represents the final product of a seven-year intellectual journey. This process has challenged, tested, and ultimately strengthened me. However, I would not have made to this point without the guidance, support, and encouragement of a host of amazing individuals. First, I would like to acknowledge and thank my incredible supervisors, Dr. Fiona Robinson and Dr. Christina Gabriel. I cannot tell you how extremely fortunate I feel to have had you both as a mentors and friends over the last seven years—I am forever indebted to you for your continued support, encouragement, and importantly, your understanding and patience, throughout this entire process. Your feedback and advice on my work has been invaluable, and this dissertation certainly would not be what it is without all the detailed and insightful comments and suggestions you provided. I am so happy that you both generously agreed to be part of my committee—my work has benefitted immeasurably from your input. Also, thank you to my third reader, Dr. Wally Clement. It was an incredible honor and privilege to have you on my dissertation committee. I would also like to express my gratitude to my internal and external examiners, Dr. Rosemary Warskett and Dr. Catherine Eschle, for generously taking the time to review my dissertation, and participate in my defence. I greatly appreciated receiving your feedback on my work. Thank you also, of course, to the interview participants who so generously gave their time to discuss their experiences within the call center industry. Your stories are the heart of—and inspiration for—my dissertation, and I cannot thank you enough for taking part in my research. Additionally, this project was funded in part by four Ontario Graduate Scholarships and I wish to express my gratitude to the Province of Ontario and Carleton University for their generous support. This list would be woefully incomplete without acknowledging the amazingly supportive friends and family who kept me sane during this process. First and foremost, I would like to thank my late grandmother, Margaret H. Rines, who was my best friend and biggest supporter. She passed away a couple of years into this journey, but has nevertheless remained by my side throughout. I would not have believed I had what it takes to complete a PhD without her, and I know how incredibly proud she would be to see me finish. I also wish to thank Rachel Franklin. You are my oldest, dearest, and closest friend, and you have always been one of my biggest supporters, and for that I cannot thank you enough. You were always there to celebrate the successes during this process, and to support me, and cheer me on, during the struggles and challenges. I, quite simply, would not have been able to complete this dissertation without you. Additionally, I wish to thank Jillian Terry. I cannot express how wonderful it was to have a friend like you in my corner supporting, encouraging, motivating, and inspiring me throughout this process. Also, thank you to Michelle Cook, Nicole Ennis, Farnaz Behrooz, Norah Foy, Jessica Macfarlane, Katlin Fagan, Rizwana Lalani, Jana Steingass, Emily Knox, Sabrina Fernandes, Vladimir Diaz-Cuellar, and Myra Jerome. You will never know how much I have appreciated all your love and support. You all made sure that I retained perspective—and a sense of humor—throughout this process. And of course ! iv thank you to the wonderful friends that I met through the PhD program, who have continued to act as a support system despite—in many cases—the considerable distance between us. Here, in particular I wish to express my gratitude to Genevieve Piché-Dionne, who was the best comprehensive exam study partner, and all around wonderful friend a girl could ask for! I am so glad that you introduced yourself on the first day of the program—I would not have made it this far without your love, support, and friendship. Also, thank you to Daryl Kaytor, Christopher Miller, Scott Prusyers, Kat Kenny, Lena Saleh, Tory Tait, Harry Nedelcu, Ajay Parasram, and Tim Fowler. Also, thank you to Krista, Rima, Flora, and Miquelon for making my apartment building feel like a home—I am so incredibly lucky to have met you all, and I cannot thank you enough for your love and support (and many acts of kindness). This list would also be incomplete without acknowledging the amazingly brilliant group of feminist scholars who have helped me, and my work—in big and small ways— throughout the last seven years. While it is impossible to name everyone here, I do wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Kate Bedford, Dr. Rianne Mahon, Dr, Laura Macdonald, Dr. Rachel Brickner, Dr. Mathew Coleman, Dr. Christine B.N. Chin, Dr. Anita Lacey, and Dr. Catia Gregoratti. Parts of my dissertation will appear (verbatim) in an upcoming special issue of Globalizations exploring feminist political economies of the everyday. Particular gratitude is owed to the editors of this special issue, Dr. Juanita Elias and Dr. Adrienne Roberts, who not only provided me with tremendous support and encouragement, but also offered me wonderfully detailed feedback on various drafts of my article, which (along with my dissertation itself) benefited greatly from their comments suggestions. Here I also wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers who provided incredibly useful feedback on the article as well. Relatedly, I wish to acknowledge the Feminist Theory and Gender Studies (FTGS) section of the International Studies Association (ISA) for their strong commitment to promoting and encouraging graduate students’ research (including my own). My dissertation benefited immensely from the input of various scholars within this section through presentations of various chapters at the Annual Conventions over the last few years. Also, thank you to Leslie MacDonald-Hicks, the ethics coordinator at Carleton University, for your invaluable advice and support throughout, and after, the lengthy and difficult ethics review process that came along with the research project that I proposed for my dissertation. And thank you to Donna Coghill, the Administrator of the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton. You are truly the heart and soul of the Institute, and I cannot thank you enough for all your kind words, advice, and friendship throughout. Thank you also to Brookes Fee, and all of the administrative staff in the Department of Political Science at Carleton. You have all been so incredibly helpful to me during my time at Carleton—your hard work and dedication is very much appreciated. Additionally, I wish to thank the medical health professionals—in particular, Barb Wexler, Dr. M.E. Yack, Dr. D. Bowen—who, especially in the last two years of my degree, provided me with the necessary support and tools to finally complete my dissertation. You will never know the positive—and lasting—impact that you have all had on my life. I owe you all an incredible debt of gratitude. ! v Finally, I wish to thank my parents, Margaret and Stephen Redden, without whom I would not have been able to complete this dissertation (or be the person I am, for that matter). You believed I had it in me to finish, even when (at times) I did not. Your support and guidance sustained me throughout this lengthy and demanding process. It is truly impossible to put into words how grateful for I am for your love, generosity, and encouragement.