Impact of globalisation on women empowerment in India-An overview

“Women do two thirds of the world's work, receive ten percent of the world's work and one percent of the means of production”. This is the present picture of women in the era of globalisation. Rapid globalisation. Fast-paced technological progress have greatly altered women's labour market status in recent years. Evidently there are serious constraints which militate against the promotion of an effective role for women in development in those societies which were bound by age-old traditions and beliefs. Patriarchal modes and practices motivated by cultures and/or interpretations of religious sanctions and illiteracy hinder women's freedom to opt for various choices to assert greater mobility in social interactions. Resulting from these situations, women's contribution to agriculture and other sectors in the economy remain concealed and unaccounted for in monitoring economic performance measurement. Consequently, they are generally invisible in plans and programmes. They were, in fact, discriminated against by stereotypes which restrict them to a reproductive role, and denied access to resources which could eventually enhance their social and economic contribution to the society. In terms of the ratio of membership of women in agricultural cooperatives, the percentage is rather low, but they have a strong influence on them – through the heads of the households. Certain obvious barriers restrict their direct and formal entry in agricultural cooperatives. Even in countries like Japan, the ratio of women membership in agricultural cooperative is extremely low.

The effects of the long –term cumulative process of discrimination against women have been accentuated by underdevelopment. The type of agricultural activities generally expected of women in the rural areas of the underdevelopment countries is highly labour -intensive and the rural women generally do not enjoy the benefits of new technologies. Most of the production, processing, storage and preparation of food is carried out by the women. It is needless to emphasise on the significant contribution of women in agricultural production and food security. They are said to be “feeding the world”. Despite their contributions to food security, women tend to be invisible actors in the process of development. Effots have been directed at empowering them in all fields of development activities. The present paper is an attempt to through light on the negative impact of globalisation on the human rights of the women in the changing socio-economic conditions.