Division of northern and souther women
The increasing division of northern and southern countries in our world has led to the spread of capitalist views throughout the world. ... Capitalism, embedded in the principles and practices of multinational corporations, has both positive and negative effects on southern culture which directly relates to either the progression or oppression of southern women. The effects of multinational corporations can be analytically examined through two key aspects; the positive effects multinationals have on southern women and economies and the negative effects multinationals have on southern women and economies. In order to understand the full impacts of multinationals on southern countries and women, one must become familiar with the history of multinationals and its associated terms. ... The reason for the huge rise in multinationals was in response to increasing competition between northern companies, increasing free trade between countries which would mean less tax on imports and exports, new technological advancements allowed for easy movement and distribution of capital and products, and the increasing level of unions and wage labour in the north forced companies to move South. ... Marxist feminists feel that the relationships that have been formed in the home over centuries translates into the type of labour women are exposed to in the public sphere and to the amount of money they are entitled to. However, Marxist feminists also provide some positive aspects that capitalism has provided southern women with which will be discussed later on in this paper. ... It has been suggested that if multinationals and people of the south (women) work together, they can make sustainable development a reality and make the impacts of multinationals on southern countries less detrimental. ... 2) Promotion of social equity: for development to exist, it is necessary that all the sectors of society contribute to it including women, children, youth, elderly and handicapped (Boni & Lozano, 2002, p. ... Due to this main objective, there are numerous negative effects that multinationals pose on southern women. ... This in turn adds to a greater exploitation of southern women over northern women workers. Southern women are forced to work longer work days, are paid minimum wage (which is less than half of northern minimum wage), have limited worker rights, and have less union protection. Because of these factors, multinationals are able to exploit women to produce large amounts of products for export at a very minimal cost.