International Trade and Women Workers in the Global South

The channels between gender equality and international trade are complex; there could be both reverse causality and adverse consequences. For example, export-oriented growth in many countries has brought new employment opportunities for women who previously were involved in very low paying or even unpaid work, often on the farm or in small-scale self-employment. However, macroeconomic forces associated with trade, including greater global competition and industrial restructuring from technological upgrades, have the potential to aggravate gender inequalities. Given these complexities, this chapter explores the links between gender equality and international trade, considering both the direction of causality and whether the effects are harmful or beneficial for women’s advancement in the labor market and for societal well-being