Gender and Globalization
ms_lomy
WGST205_9april2018.pptxWeek 12: Globalization and Gender-Based Violence
WGST 205:
Gender and Globalization
Tuesday, 10 April 2018
A maquiladora is a foreign-owned assembly plant in Mexico where companies import machinery and materials duty free and export finished products around the world.
Since 1985, maquila exports have been Mexico’s second largest source of income, accounting for nearly half of Mexico’s exports.
Profits are sent back to the U.S. (90% of factories are US-owned); thus maquiladoras do not promote direct economic development in Mexico.
The wages that workers earn help boost local service economies (e.g., restaurants, retail shops, etc.).
The Maquiladora
Neoliberal Policies on the Border
Border Industrialization Program (1965) – US-Mexico treaty to help solve the problem of unemployment along the border.
After the passage of NAFTA in 1994, maquila employment doubled from 648,263 in 1995 to 1,291,232 in 2000.
At the same time, the US instituted “Operation Gatekeeper” (1994) to “restore integrity and safety to the San Diego border crossing,” increasing the number of border agents from 980 in 1994 to 2,264 in 1998.
According to the Dept of Homeland Security, there were 22,947 border patrol officers as of April 2016. Among them, about 18,000 are stationed on the US-Mexico border.
According to official statistics, 14 mil women work in wage-earning jobs in Mexico (42% of formal labor force). Does not include informal sector employment.
More than half of all maquiladora workers are women.
Minimum wages in the border region are the highest in Mexico; the average wage rate for an unskilled maquila worker is $2.30/hr. Under Mexican labor law, workers must receive pay increases after 3 months on the job.
Maquiladoras must pay into Mexico’s socialized medical system as well as paid maternity leave; a maquiladora of over 150 employees must staff a physician.
Mexican Labor Law
Because maquiladoras prefer women production workers, women do not experience discrimination in hiring. Rather, they experience discriminating practices in the workplace – namely, racial and sexual harassment, and pregnancy discrimination.
According to INMUJERES (National Women’s Institute), only 43% of maquila women enjoy labor protection and just 35% received health care in 2009. 46% reported sexual harassment.
Discrimination of Maquila Workers
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Because Mexican labor law requires extensive maternity benefits, maquila managers often demand pregnancy tests as a condition of employment (illegal practice).
It is against Mexican labor law to fire a pregnant woman, but pregnant women are routinely terminated (also a violation of Mexican labor law).
Many women reported that they were subject to random pregnancy testing throughout their work term, and were forced to demonstrate proof of menstruation.
Pregnancy Discrimination of Maquila Workers (Abell 1999, Koerner 1999)
Women maquila workers encouraged to participate in “Most Daring Bra” and “Wet String Bikini” contests (Livingston 2004).
Pantaleo (2001) suggests that sexually objectifying practices such as encouraging workers to model for photos and date managers are precursors to violence against women.
Other forms of sexual harassment
What is a maquiladora? Identify two neoliberal policies that explain the presence of maquiladoras in the US-Mexico border region. Why are young, single women viewed as “desirable” maquiladora workers?
Define “sexualized and racialized despotism.” Is it an effective form of labor control of women maquiladora workers? Why or why not?
Possible Exam Question
