Globalization and its Impactson Migration, Gender, Public HealthPOLICY DIALOGUE: Globalization and its Impacts on Migration, Gender, Public Health POLICY DIALOGUE Dec 5, 2006 (Tue) 8:30 – 10:00am Rm 619, Sino Building, Chung Chi College *For registration, please email to grcentre@cuhk.edu.hk before Dec 2. **To avoid interrupting the conference, All participants MUST be seated before 8:30am Real-Time　Videoconference Keio SFC ・ United Nations, NY ・ Manila ・ UGM Jogjakarta ・ Hong Kong All are Welcome!


Implications of Globalization on Gender Issues in Asia : Implications of Globalization on Gender Issues in Asia Fanny M. Cheung, PhD Director Gender Research Centre Chinese University of Hong Kong


Related Gender Issues in Asia: Related Gender Issues in Asia Gender Perspectives on Work & Employment Migration New Patriarchies Sexual Health


I. Work & Employment: I. Work & Employment Economic Restructuring Unemployment Opportunities Women’s and Men’s Responses & Outcomes


Slide5: From Ma (2005)


Work & Employment: Work & Employment “Female Proletariat” (Aguilar, 2004) consigned to the lowest-paid and least secure jobs with the worst working conditions Low social security in marginal employment Occupational polarization and gender-age stratification in employment (Ngo & Pun, 2006)


Work & Employment: Work & Employment Less gender difference in overall unemployment rate – women taking up less desirable jobs or drop out of the work force More opportunities for young, educated females; Shorter unemployment duration than men Older, unskilled women are marginalized; Longest duration of economic inactivity


Work & Employment: Work & Employment Higher growth rate of self-employed women – starting own business Part-time casual work & low-pay service jobs (cleaning, caring) among older women Increased income disparity between men and women, and among women


II. Migration: II. Migration Gendered Patterns of Migration in Asia Implications on Family System


Migration: Migration Ghosh (2003) – Asia is one of the most active regions with cross-border movement of women Women migrants largely in the service sector Domestic & Care sectors Entertainment work


Migration: Migration Labor-sending countries – e.g. Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam Destinations – Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Middle East Sending & Receiving countries – India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand


Migration: Migration Internal Migration of women labor Rural to Urban Transient population Instability and marginalization of migrants Return after period of employment


Migration: Migration Economic Power and Status within the family ? Marriage Role Expectations within Family Family Relationships Long period of separation Tensions


III. New Patriarchies: III. New Patriarchies Reversion to stereotypic gender biases under economic reforms in China –”Women go home” Construction of gender identities under market economy – Focus on women as sexual commodities Emergence of “counter-feminist” ideology among women – “Better to marry well than to study well”


New Patriarchies: New Patriarchies More “powerful” masculine identities under the threat of economic instability Occasional philandering as a legitimate form of male entertainment Resurgence of traditional gender ideology – “Men and women are NOT the same”  justification for superior-inferior status


New Patriarchies: New Patriarchies Cross-border, cross-location liaisons – mistresses, second wives (S. M. Tam, et al., 2006) Re-organization of work across the Chinese border interfaced with the gender asymmetry in which men were considered superior and women inferior


IV. Sexual Health: IV. Sexual Health Cross-border casual & commercial sex Trafficking of women as commercial sex workers HIV/AIDS threats and prevention strategies for Sex Workers across borders Men Wives/partners


Gender Challenges: Gender Challenges Strengthen Gender Perspective in research, policies, legislation and services Promote Gender Analysis on differential impact of globalization Increase Gender Sensitivity in training and education Include voices of women as stakeholders and participants


Mainstreaming Gender in Research, Policy, Legislation & Services: Mainstreaming Gender in Research, Policy, Legislation & Services Thank You