How do global trade agreements affect gendered labour?

Global trade agreements can perpetuate gendered labour disparities by reinforcing traditional roles and wage gaps.

Global trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), can have significant impacts on gendered labour. These agreements often lead to the liberalisation of markets and the promotion of free trade, which can have both positive and negative effects on gendered labour.

On one hand, global trade agreements can create new job opportunities, which can potentially benefit women. For example, the garment industry, which is often promoted in free trade agreements, employs a large number of women. This can provide women with an income and a degree of financial independence. However, these jobs are often low-paid, precarious, and involve poor working conditions.

On the other hand, global trade agreements can also reinforce traditional gender roles and wage gaps. This is because these agreements often promote industries that are traditionally male-dominated, such as manufacturing and agriculture. Women, therefore, may find themselves pushed into lower-paid, less secure jobs, while men benefit from higher wages and better job security. This can exacerbate existing gender inequalities in the labour market.

Moreover, global trade agreements can also lead to the deregulation of labour markets, which can further disadvantage women. Deregulation often leads to a reduction in labour rights and protections, which disproportionately affects women, who are more likely to be in precarious employment. This can lead to a rise in gender-based discrimination and harassment in the workplace, further entrenching gender inequalities.

Finally, the impacts of global trade agreements on gendered labour can also be influenced by other factors, such as national labour laws and social norms. For example, in countries where women's labour rights are already weak, global trade agreements can further exacerbate gender inequalities. Conversely, in countries with strong labour rights and gender equality laws, the negative impacts of global trade agreements on gendered labour may be mitigated.

In conclusion, while global trade agreements can create new job opportunities, they can also reinforce traditional gender roles and wage gaps, and lead to a reduction in labour rights and protections. The impacts of these agreements on gendered labour are complex and multifaceted, and are influenced by a range of factors, including national labour laws and social norms.