Gender and trade overview report BRIDGE, Development - Gender ; Zo Randriamaro

Literaturverz. S. 59 - 65

Literaturverz. S. 59 - 65

Gender is a key factor in the complex relationship between trade, growth and development. This report points to the crucial need to ensure that trade liberalisation does not undermine women's rights and poor people's livelihoods, and supports the gender equality agenda. This requires the explicit recognition of women's contribution to the economy through both their productive and their unpaid reproductive work. Trade policies affect men and women differently due to gender inequalities in access to and control of economic and social resources and decision-making. Their impact is also mediated by the different roles that men and women have within societies. Trade liberalisation has no doubt led to an increase in employment opportunities for women - particularly in export-oriented sectors such as textiles. Earning an income externally to the household can lead to greater empowerment for women. However, trade liberalisation can also lead to unemployment and the restructuring of labour markets - a situation that tends to affect poor and marginalised groups of women more than men. In fact, occupational and wage segregation is widening and bad working conditions are rife in many export industries. At the macro level, women advocates in organisations like the International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN), Women in Development Europe (WIDE) and the Women's Edge Coalition have used impact analysis tools to lever gender considerations into trade agreements.