The gender dimension of globalization: a survey of the literature with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract This literature review presents an overview of current research and publications around economic globalization and gender, with a specific focus on Latin American and Caribbean countries. The objectives of the survey are to uncover the gender dimension of the process and currents trends in Women's status and well being as a result of the various dimensions of economic globalization, especially in developing countries. Specific themes of the review include: globalization as a concept, gendered employment-creating and displacing effects of globalization, gender differentiated effects of labor flexibilization-informalization, the empowerment potential of Women's trade-related employment, gendered impacts of the weakening of the State under globalization, modern technologies and women, international migration, the global sex industry and women, among other themes. In addition, this study provides an overall assessment of the state of the art of the research, where gaps in the literature are identified and further directions for research and inquiry are suggested.