In a remarkable pairing, two renowned social critics offer a groundbreaking anthology that examines the unexplored consequences of globalization...
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Apr 06, 2009
Nicola
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This is a terribly depressing read, simply because it's a terribly depressing subject: white, Western women are able to enjoy their postfeminist equality, but only by (under)paying non-white migrant workers to clean their homes and look after their children. It's a damning, seemingly-unsolvable problem and one that I wanted to know more about. But I really had to force myself to keep reading, because it's a topic that contains such upsetting truths.
There are some great articles in th More...
There are some great articles in th More...
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Aug 02, 2011
Lisa
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This book discusses how the "Western" woman is helping to oppress woman from third world nations by passing on the domestic work in their homes to those maids and nannies while they "liberate" themselves and go to work everyday. It's an interesting perspective but of course it does not apply to a majority of "Western/American" women. Not all families can afford to have domestic help. Yet, to hear the stories of the women who are being "imported" to supp
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Dec 31, 2008
Agnes
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After unsuccessfully starting two novels, I realized that I was in the mood for non-fiction. This is a great collection of essays about women who migrate (voluntarily or involuntarily through sexual slavery) due to modern economic pressures and various other causes linked to globalization. Ehrenreich's essay is a standout, while the loser (not surprisingly for me, since I couldn't stand her when I had her for a class at U of C) is Sassen's closing essay on global cities/migration. A couple of
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Oct 30, 2010
Teghan
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A terribly depressing read made even more depressing by the fact that these are the experiences of women all over the world. These are their lives and they don't have the luxury of putting the book down.
Despite that this book is an enlightening read that makes you aware of your own position in the world. It merely scratches the surface of the injustices women experience in their lives all around the world.
One of the strengths of the book is the way in which the material is More...
Despite that this book is an enlightening read that makes you aware of your own position in the world. It merely scratches the surface of the injustices women experience in their lives all around the world.
One of the strengths of the book is the way in which the material is More...
Feb 20, 2011
Lucy
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This is basically a collection of essays in the supplementary roles woman play which allow the great game of globalization to expand.
It starts with the stories of Phillipino women (and it should be noticed that the majority of cases in the book involve exploitation of South East Asians) who are hired by wealthy American working couples to perform the traditional female roles of childrearing, cleaning & cooking (keeping house basically).
With the Western woman now fully en More...
It starts with the stories of Phillipino women (and it should be noticed that the majority of cases in the book involve exploitation of South East Asians) who are hired by wealthy American working couples to perform the traditional female roles of childrearing, cleaning & cooking (keeping house basically).
With the Western woman now fully en More...
Jan 27, 2009
Mary
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It's very good. Fifteen writers contribute articles on the migration of third world women to work as first world maids, nannies, and prostitutes-- really interesting stuff. While the topic range is pretty broad, I was very slightly disappointed with the range of voices. After all, what's a feminist compilation without at least one radical, preferably revolting against patriarchal language? I kid, but I have come to appreciate the variety one usually gets from feminist compilations, and I gen
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Nov 28, 2008
Steven
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This book could be an attempt to expand Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickled and Dimed with a feminist angle. Instead, it is a collection of vaguely redundant essays that collectively numb the reader rather than stir them to action.
The essays - each by a different author, mind you - cover - as the title implies - women in the global economy. Specifically, women who have become migrant nannies, maids, and sex workers. There is a lot of moving, powerful, and astounding information in this b More...
The essays - each by a different author, mind you - cover - as the title implies - women in the global economy. Specifically, women who have become migrant nannies, maids, and sex workers. There is a lot of moving, powerful, and astounding information in this b More...
Aug 15, 2008
ExistenGuy
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This book has the subtitle: Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers in the new economy and should give the reader a clear picture of the content - a collection of articles/essays mostly written by women on female migrant workers in the era of globalization. Most of them tell stories of women (mainly Hispanic and Filipina) who have left their homes to work in distant countries, severing ties with their children and husbands left behind in their native land. The essays detail their survival in a world of
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Aug 28, 2008
Emily
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I picked this book to read because I thought it was by Barbara Erenreich. Instead it is a collection of essays that is edited by her. (She did actually write ONE of the essays.) I also didn't realize it was just essays, not a contiguous study of women in the global economy. That was a little dissapointing. Just as an essay got interesting, it was over and the next one was boring.
But I would like to speak about the second to last essay. It was about Vietnamese (or Korean...I alr More...
But I would like to speak about the second to last essay. It was about Vietnamese (or Korean...I alr More...
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Dec 21, 2007
Tracey
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Global Woman is a collection of essays on the causes & effects of the migration of women from less developed countries to more developed countries - focusing on the care industry. The authors of the essays interviewed both the women providing the care, as well as the employers (usually women); comparing and contrasting the stories they told.
Also included are histories of those left behind; the children and husbands of the migrant women, who sometimes do not return for years. The imp More...
Also included are histories of those left behind; the children and husbands of the migrant women, who sometimes do not return for years. The imp More...
Jul 20, 2011
Chinook
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I read Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide a couple of months ago, and now that I've read this book, I feel incredibly well informed. The last essay I found a bit boring, but the others were all interesting, if occasionally a bit repetitive.
Feb 08, 2010
Libby
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Well put-together, a series of essays by a variety of authors. I was grateful there were more voices than Ms.Ehrenreich's represented - she didn't bring much new to the table after her Nickel and Dimed reporting. At it's best this book takes underdocumented populations - often SE Asian women working in private homes across the sea from relatives, and looks at a variety of labor practices, living standards and personal connection to employer. There are more than a few real hard luck cases, and th
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Dec 16, 2009
Lubna
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This is a series of essays from various thinkers & writers about different issues affecting women around the world. One of the main premises of the book is that the gains of women in the Western world has been made on the backs of the poor, women of color of the Global South. For example (and relevant to myself), women can become high powered attorneys because they can hire nannies (often from Latin America, etc) to take care of their children - wrenching these women from their own children back
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Mar 03, 2010
Lindsey
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I read parts of this book for class, but it was so interesting that I found myself reading the whole thing in my spare time. I'm not as up to date as I would like to be about global feminist issues and this book really opened my eyes on a lot of things. If you're not interested in global feminism, this is probably not the book for you, though, because it's relatively academic and some of the essays (especially the last one) are REALLY heavy-handed when it comes to Academic Speak, which I actuall
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Aug 02, 2011
This collection of essays is very interesting and an important book, because it uncovers the connections, the social and cultural reasons for the exploitation of woman.
Nov 26, 2008
Nikki
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surprisingly rather fascinating and thought provoking, especially when you are raise in a generation where stay-at-home moms are unusual and nannies are commonplace
Mar 11, 2010
Amanda
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A fair intro into the various female migration patterns occuring today- though by no means a serious/indepth sociological analysis. I do see the importance in including the various forms migration takes (childcare, trafficking, service) under the auspices of discussing the 'Global Woman'- but I think the unfocused nature of the book detracted from my appreciation of it.
Saskia Sassens's final essay Global Cities and Survival Circuits was a highlight of the book's overarching themes a More...
Saskia Sassens's final essay Global Cities and Survival Circuits was a highlight of the book's overarching themes a More...
Dec 16, 2009
pinkgal
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Not quite as personal as Nickel and Dimed, this is definitely for the readers who prefer a bit more academia in their reading. Nevertheless, it's filled with interesting stories about the women behind the faces we see on the news and beyond. One thing I really like about Ehrenreich is her ability to tackle the subjects that others hate to notice. Or rather, would like to NOT notice. Poverty? Please, of course people can live off minimum wage! If they can't, they're just lazy or spendthrifts. Wo
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Dec 16, 2009
Jen
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A more informational, research-based version of Nickeled and Dimed (the editor's more popular book), with essays by various researchers. Like many similar books, you are left with a bit of a "you can't win" taste - is it better to hire someone in a means that could be exploitative, or to not hire them? Are people taken advantage of more if hired through agencies or individually? Etc. The biggest thing I remember about the book was the irony of economic systems that make it necessar
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Jun 04, 2009
The horrific trade in human beings as things to be consumed- women and as female children; the human costs -personal, familial and to society.
Aug 13, 2011
Amanda
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Focuses mostly on domestic workers much less on sex workers and nannies. A collection of interesting and informative essays.
Aug 01, 2011
fluid international labour markets and the challenges of facing minimum wage regimes.
Feb 03, 2011
Ashleigh
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A good book, full of short, investigative essays on everything from international nannies and their various family dynamics, various parts of the sex industry, maid services, and other professions that are stereotypically and traditionally taken on by women either by force or choice. It's now slightly outdated, which is actually encouraging, as some conditions for women forced into servitude have, in some ways, improved.
The book also talks about relationships with western women, and the va More...
The book also talks about relationships with western women, and the va More...
May 16, 2008
Sarah
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Incredible much-needed look at women, labor and migration in the global economy. Too many 3rd world women are globe-trotting to fill the "care sector" as nannies, housekeepers and prostitutes only to leave a "care void" behind due to strict traditional gender roles that say a woman can't be the provider and a man is not supposed to be the family's source of love and support. This book opened my eyes to some very important work that needs to be done to reconcile the relationsh
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Feb 23, 2009
Very eye-opening. I'm reading for my migration class, it was a good pick for a text.
Jun 13, 2011
Coco
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Misleading title. This is really a series of essays on why domestic work is exploitative with some brief chatter about child prostitutes. Maybe two of the nine essays were worth reading.
Dec 23, 2009
Aidenpants
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I loved this book! Parts of it were difficult to read, of course. It's worth it to expand my understanding of what women face all over the world and to re-realize how privileged I am.
The essays are informative, well-written, sometimes funny and always thought-provoking. The writing styles range from fairly easy to more dense and difficult.
The essays are informative, well-written, sometimes funny and always thought-provoking. The writing styles range from fairly easy to more dense and difficult.
May 15, 2008
Katie
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it was so great to read about women and women's labor as a part of globalization that wasn't focused completely on human trafficking and sex work. although those topics are so important, other roles are often overlooked and it was so eye-opening and refreshing to look at other roles women play across the world. everyone should read this book.
