Introduction
Globalisation has significantly altered the landscape of economies around the world, and its impact on women’s work in India is both complex and multifaceted. While it has opened up new opportunities, it has also intensified existing gender inequalities. This essay explores how globalisation has influenced women’s roles in the Indian workforce, analyzing both the positive and negative outcomes through feminist perspectives.
Opportunities Created by Globalisation
One of the notable benefits of globalisation has been the rise in employment opportunities in new sectors such as Information Technology (IT), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and garment manufacturing. These industries have employed large numbers of women, particularly in urban areas.
- Urban employment: IT parks and BPOs have employed thousands of young, educated women, especially in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.
- Export-oriented jobs: Garment and textile industries in regions like Tiruppur and Noida have relied heavily on female labor, offering low-wage but steady employment.
- Self-employment and entrepreneurship: Globalisation has enabled access to online platforms for women to sell products and services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.
These trends have helped some women gain economic independence, mobility, and exposure to modern work cultures.
Feminisation of Labour and Precarious Employment
Despite increased participation in the workforce, globalisation has also led to the feminisation of precarious employment. This means women are concentrated in low-paying, insecure jobs with minimal rights and protections.
- Contract and informal work: Many women in export industries are employed on short-term contracts without benefits like maternity leave or health insurance.
- Low wages and lack of social security: Even in sectors like IT or education, women often face wage gaps and limited promotion opportunities.
Diane Elson, a feminist economist, points out that global capitalism often treats women as a “reserve army of labor,” using their work as cheap and flexible labor without offering long-term security.
Unpaid Work and the Care Economy
Globalisation has failed to reduce the burden of unpaid care work on women. Indian women continue to perform a disproportionate share of household chores, child-rearing, and elder care. This dual burden limits their ability to participate fully in the paid workforce.
According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), women spend over 5 hours a day on unpaid work compared to less than an hour by men. Feminist scholars like Nancy Folbre emphasize the need to recognize and redistribute care responsibilities through public policies like childcare support and parental leave.
Impact on Rural Women and Traditional Livelihoods
Globalisation has adversely affected rural women involved in traditional livelihoods such as handicrafts, handlooms, and subsistence farming.
- Imported, cheaper goods have replaced traditional crafts, leading to job losses.
- Corporate farming and cash crops have reduced food security and worsened the position of women farmers.
Many rural women are forced to migrate to cities for work, often ending up in low-paid domestic labor without formal protections.
Migration and Trafficking
Globalisation-driven migration has made women more vulnerable to exploitation. Many migrate for work but are trafficked into sex work or forced labor due to lack of education, awareness, and legal safeguards.
Feminist perspectives stress the need for gender-sensitive migration policies, safer migration pathways, and support systems to protect vulnerable women.
Technology and Digital Divide
While globalisation has introduced digital tools and platforms, the digital gender divide limits women’s access. In rural India, fewer women own mobile phones or access the internet, excluding them from opportunities in e-commerce, online education, and gig work.
Policy Gaps and Government Initiatives
Although schemes like Skill India and Start-Up India aim to include women, implementation is weak. Labor laws often exclude domestic workers and home-based workers. There is also a lack of gender-disaggregated data in many employment schemes.
Feminist Scholarship and Critiques
Feminist scholars argue that globalisation cannot be gender-neutral. Policies must recognize gendered experiences and inequalities. Naila Kabeer emphasizes the importance of agency, suggesting that employment should expand women’s choices and autonomy.
Silvia Federici critiques how capitalism exploits unpaid labor, particularly women’s work at home, arguing for the inclusion of domestic work in economic frameworks.
Way Forward
- Formalize informal sectors and ensure labor rights for all workers.
- Invest in childcare and eldercare infrastructure to reduce unpaid work.
- Close the gender digital divide through affordable internet access and digital literacy.
- Strengthen implementation of equal pay and anti-harassment laws.
- Ensure representation of women in trade unions, policymaking, and leadership roles.
Conclusion
Globalisation has brought new employment opportunities for Indian women, especially in urban sectors. However, it has also deepened existing gender inequalities by pushing women into insecure, informal, and undervalued roles. A feminist perspective reveals that economic growth alone is not enough; policies must address structural and social barriers to truly empower women. Recognizing unpaid work, ensuring decent wages, and creating a supportive infrastructure are essential to making globalisation inclusive and equitable for women in India.