1. Outline
In this article, I will explore in details the gender bias of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). First, I will give an in depth overview and background information about Structural Adjustment Programs. Secondly, the research will also examine and highlight the factors that influence the adoption of Structural Adjustment Programs. Moreover, the essay will briefly elaborate on the term gender and what constitute gender bias.
Furthermore, I will attempt to evaluate the impact on gender by the implementation of the conditionalities of the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) as stipulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB).
1.1 Introduction
Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) were neoliberal policies that were supported by the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) for implementation in developing countries. The policy consequences are still a controversial issue and the mere mention of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) can provoke heated debate. The effects of Structural Adjustment Programs are far and wide and the debates about its impacts still stand the test of time. While Structural Adjustment Program(SAPs) was regarded as a success story in some countries by analysts for mainly its regulatory role in public service reform (Jayarayah Cral, Barson William 1995) and that SAP was working ,but improper evaluation distorted its reality (P. Thandika Mkandawire, Charles Chukwuma Soludo 2003). It’s also widely criticized by other critics for its adverse effects on for instance agriculture;
That is substantial expansion of aggregate agricultural output and export is unrealistic in the short and long terms, even if all the components are in place at the sta...
... middle of paper ...
...ton wood institutions namely World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The triumph of western liberal democracy and market economy was a turning point in the history of the world. The new agenda was a transformation of global political economies around the world in alignment of the western system through democracy and market liberalization.
Authors of Marxian orientation had argued using dependency theories that Structural Adjustment Programs ( SAPs) were not a consequence of financial activities of ‘petrodollar recycling’ by western commercial banks and bulky ‘odious debt ‘owed by the developing countries but rather a rare opportunity to open third world economies which has hitherto pursued protectionist policies. Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) thus was one of the latest activities in the growing influence of capitalism and neo liberalism.
To understand the theory of gender inequality better, it is necessary to confront the obstacles that have limited prior attempts. Amongst these, one the most important ones is the strong urge to minimize all explanations of gender inequality to some fundamental contrast between the sexes.
Another thing is that they must be committed to eliminate gender discrimination in the workplace. Moreover, the impact of gender bias is related to the economy. Laws were first adopted which aimed at a general prohibition of discrimination against women and other groups that were historically discriminated against in the labor market still remain with unsolved discrimination issues. A significant portion of the wage gap between women and men in the workplace is due to employers ' unfair discriminating based on gender. Eliminating discrimination against women would enable the employment of the person, male or female, most likely to affect society. Everyone should recognize women’s social matter and try to remove their prejudice that men can perform better than women and treat women as equivalent to men. The Government needs to continue to try to help women in this society and practice a strict regulation to prevent discrimination against women. Women also need to raise her voice and
Neoliberalism, also called free market economy, is a set of economic policies that became widespread in the last 25 years. The concept neoliberalism, have been imposed by financial institutions that fall under the Bretton Woods such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Bank (Martinez & Garcia, 1996). One of the famous economists published a book called “The Wealth of Nations” in which he said in it that free trade is the best way to develop nations economies (Martinez & Garcia, 1996). He and other economists also encouraged the removal of government intervention in economic matters, no restrictions on manufacturing, removing borders and barriers between nations, and no taxes (Martinez & Garcia, 1996). The main goal of the economic globalization was to reduce poverty and inequality in the poorest regions. However, the effects of the neoliberal policies on people all over the world has been devastating (MIT, 2000).
In this essay, I will be discussing the statement “Gender Inequalities exist and removing them is fundamental to development”. I will focus on how continents compare in their overall rankings taking in consideration health & survival, education, economic participation and political empowerment, with including a case study for an LEDC and MEDC country.
Women face discrimination in the workplace. Nowadays, the gender inequality is a main problem in the workplace and society. It has been proved that working women earn less than men due to discrimination of class, race, and culture. Women should have the same opportunities as men. In fact, working women tend to be poorer, unhealthier, and less secure. It is important to stop all forms of discrimination against women and girl children and create more programs to help the affected victims.
...ds & Gelleny, 2007). Moreover, the status of women is independent on policy adjustments in developing countries. Governments in developing countries should organize an economically and political stable environment, to be economically attractive (Maxfield, 1998 as cited in Richards & Gelleny, 2007). Other critics state governments are forced to cut expenditures in education and social programs. This phenomenon especially affects women (Ayres and McCalla, 1997, as cited in Richards & Gelleny, 2007). Since the public sector is one of the main employers of females, women are often the most disadvantaged by governmental efforts to cut expenditures in the public sector (Hemmati and Gardiner, 2004, as cited in Richards & Gelleny, 2007). As a result, women will become unemployed and unable to expanded education among themselves or their children. (Richards & Gelleny, 2007)
...." Women, Men and Development. March 2004: 1-27. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
McMichael, Philip, ed 2012. Development and Social Change: A Global Perspective, 5th ed. London: Sage Publications, Inc.
Zetterberg, P, 2009. Do Gender Quotas Foster Political Engagement? Lessons from Latin America. Political Research Quarterly [ONLINE] 62 (4) pp. 715-730. Available from: Sage Publications Online
My essay is divided into two parts. In the first part I am focused on the first question and I analyse Åsa Löfström´s report, OECD and World Bank Group´s documents and the scientific works of other scientists, such as Roger Mortvik and Roland Spant, Mark Smith, Kabeer and Natali. In the second part I am more specific and I try to find answers on the second and third question. Whereas these questions involve the strategies and actions to exploit the economic potential in female employment, I will focus on the EU level to give you a particular example.
Today’s policies are essential to the development of the people; servicing the needs and interest of the citizens. Policy change builds a greater society; these revolutions are sometimes forced by external conditions “outside events or “shocks” – such as a change of government, an economi...
Gender stratification is the cuts across all aspects of social life and social classes. It refers to the inequality distribution of wealth, power and privilege between men and women at the basis of their sex. The world has been divided and organized by gender, which are the behavioural differences between men and women that are culturally learnt (Appelbaum & Chambliss, 1997:218). The society is in fact historically shaped by males and the issue regarding the fact has been publicly reverberating through society for decades and now is still a debatably hot topic. Men and women have different roles and these sex roles, defined to be the set of behaviour’s and characteristics that are standard for each gender in a society (Singleton, 1987) are deemed to be proper in the eyes of the society. They are as a matter of fact proper but as time move on, the mind-set of women changes as well, women also want to move on. However the institutional stratification by the society has become more insidious that the stereotypical roles have created a huge barrier between men and women. These barriers has affected women in many aspects such as minimizing their access on a more superior position in workforce organization, limits their ownership of property and discriminates them from receiving better attention and care.
Notice that the participation of the woman in labor force is a natural response according with the evolution of the world. Castellano, Punzo and Rocca (2013) wrote in their article, there is a concern in Europe about social policies on women participation in the labor market, which the objective is promote the gender equality and revitalizing the work area through the female participation. Thus, some countries have worries about laws and rules with worker woman because there isn’t doubt that she brings benefits for the society.
Lim, Joseph Y. and Montes, Manuel F. "The Structure of Employment and Structural Adjustment in the Philippines." Journal of Development Studies v.36
Globalization was derived from colonialism to control over previously colonized nations, and the way it did so was through the creation of the World Bank in 1945. Globalization is defined in Steger's book as, "the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across world-time and world-space" (Steger 15). Globalization included numerous aspects but one that had heavily influence countries across the world was the World Bank, previously known as The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The World Bank was created during the Bretton Woods Conference, a t...