Kumarian Press Hidden Assembly Line: Gender Dynamics of Subcontracted Work in a Global Economy

An exploration of how current globalizing economic trends impact on the lives of women workers in Asia, looking specifically at the dynamics and growth of subcontracted labor. The contributors explore the impact of subcontracted work in different national settings, making links to the global economy, and to household level changes in women's financial security and work opportunities. They present case studies from Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India, and explore the implications for women's empowerment and changing social relations of production. For scholars, students and researchers interested in women's roles in economic development and in a globalizing world economy. An exploration of how current globalizing economic trends impact on the lives of women workers in Asia, looking specifically at the dynamics and growth of subcontracted labor. Case studies from Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India connect global economic change in labor and production to household level changes in women's financial security and work opportunities. The international contributors consider these changes from the point of view of women's empowerment and changing social relations of production. For scholars, students and researchers interested in women's roles in economic development and in a globalizing world economy. About the Author Radhika Balakrishnan has a Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University and is an associate professor of Economics at Marymount Manhattan College. Namrata Bali is the Secretary of Sewa (Self Employed Women's Association), a registered Trade Union of informal sector women workers with a membership of 2,018,000 women in India.