producing women femininity on the line

7/24/2019 Producing Women Femininity on the Line

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Producing Women:Producing Women:Femininity on the LineFemininity on the Line

Article by: Leslie SalzingerArticle by: Leslie Salzinger

Presented by: Erica CreswellPresented by: Erica Creswell


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Goals of ArticleGoals of Article

o in!estigate the role ofo in!estigate the role of

gendered meanings ingendered meanings in

constituting sub"ects in globalconstituting sub"ects in global

factoriesfactories

o e#$lore the ramifications ofo e#$lore the ramifications of

that $rocess for transnationalthat $rocess for transnational

$roduction$roduction


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Com$onents of GlobalizationCom$onents of Globalization

Ca$ital%s increased ca$acity to mo!eCa$ital%s increased ca$acity to mo!ein search of better& chea$er& morein search of better& chea$er& moremalleable& more highly s'illedmalleable& more highly s'illed

wor'ers(wor'ers(

)f these decisions are made based on)f these decisions are made based ongender& it becomes a central featuregender& it becomes a central featureof the $rocessof the $rocess

he connection between hiring andhe connection between hiring andlabor control mean that the criterialabor control mean that the criteriaused to deem someone *hirable+used to deem someone *hirable+continue to be used on the sho$ floorcontinue to be used on the sho$ floor


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Gender ,$erates hroughoutGender ,$erates hroughout

Global ProductionGlobal Production

)t frames decisions about)t frames decisions aboutechnologyechnology

-iring-iring

Labor ControlLabor Control


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Gender SignificanceGender Significance

)n transnational managerial)n transnational managerial

framewor's:framewor's: **Femininity+ has become associatedFemininity+ has become associated

with $roducti!itywith $roducti!ity **.asculinity+ has become associated.asculinity+ has become associated

with sloth and disru$tionwith sloth and disru$tion

hus& the image of the *docile andhus& the image of the *docile and

de#terous+ woman has become thede#terous+ woman has become thestandard to which all other $otentialstandard to which all other $otential

wor'ers are measuredwor'ers are measured


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Accurate /escri$tion orAccurate /escri$tion or

Fantasy0Fantasy0

hese !iews do not accurately describehese !iews do not accurately describesho$1floor realitiessho$1floor realities

Anyone who has s$ent time obser!ingAnyone who has s$ent time obser!ingca$italist $roduction 'nows how im$ossibleca$italist $roduction 'nows how im$ossible

it is to sim$ly hire sho$1floor com$liance1it is to sim$ly hire sho$1floor com$liance1feminine or otherwisefeminine or otherwise

/ocility is $roduced on the sho$ floor& not/ocility is $roduced on the sho$ floor& notac2uired ready1madeac2uired ready1made

his image of a docile& de#terous& chea$his image of a docile& de#terous& chea$woman whose $roducti!e femininitywoman whose $roducti!e femininityre2uires not creation but recognition is are2uires not creation but recognition is atransnationally $roduced fantasytransnationally $roduced fantasy


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Fantasy With Conse2uencesFantasy With Conse2uences

3egardless of the truth behind3egardless of the truth behind

this image& it is $recisely withinthis image& it is $recisely within

these gendered discourses thatthese gendered discourses that

decisions about $roduction aredecisions about $roduction are

mademade


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.a2uiadora )ndustry.a2uiadora )ndustry

Located on .e#ico%s northernLocated on .e#ico%s northernborderborder

E#$ort1$rocessing $lants firstE#$ort1$rocessing $lants firstestablished in the 4567sestablished in the 4567s

his de!elo$ment model made ahis de!elo$ment model made areser!e army of docile and de#terousreser!e army of docile and de#terousyoung women it%s center$ieceyoung women it%s center$iece

From the onset this led to youngFrom the onset this led to young

women%s wide1s$read recruitment bywomen%s wide1s$read recruitment bymanagement and their male $eers%management and their male $eers%e2ually generalized de$reciatione2ually generalized de$reciation


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.a2uiadoras Cont(.a2uiadoras Cont(

)ronically& this led management)ronically& this led management

to ha!e to deal with unrulyto ha!e to deal with unruly

women and young men as thewomen and young men as the

su$$ly of women willing to wor'su$$ly of women willing to wor'

for low wages fell dramatically infor low wages fell dramatically in

the boom of the 4587sthe boom of the 4587s


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.anagers% 3es$onse:.anagers% 3es$onse:

Some hired from outside borderSome hired from outside border

citiescities

Some mo!ed their $roductionSome mo!ed their $roduction

further southfurther south

Some hired men into theSome hired men into the

industry%s feminized "obindustry%s feminized "ob

descri$tionsdescri$tions


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Early 4557sEarly 4557s

9y the early 4557s the image of9y the early 4557s the image of

the oung Woman Wor'er wasthe oung Woman Wor'er was

as $resent as e!er in theas $resent as e!er in the

.a2uilla industry& but was.a2uilla industry& but was

o$erating in a highly di!erse seto$erating in a highly di!erse set

of sho$ floors $o$ulated by aof sho$ floors $o$ulated by a

wide !ariety of wor'erswide !ariety of wor'ers


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.a2uilla )ndustry )deal for.a2uilla )ndustry )deal for

Study of GenderStudy of Gender

.a2uilla "obs are indeed *feminized+ but.a2uilla "obs are indeed *feminized+ butthis does not mean they are occu$iedthis does not mean they are occu$iedsolely by womensolely by women

Feminization here emerges as a discursi!eFeminization here emerges as a discursi!e

$rocess affecting both male and female$rocess affecting both male and femalebodies& $roducing a $ool of *ma2uilla1bodies& $roducing a $ool of *ma2uilla1grade+ laborgrade+ labor

hese factory1le!el discourses interact withhese factory1le!el discourses interact withbut do not necessarily re$roduce the largerbut do not necessarily re$roduce the largernarrati!e of wor'er femininitynarrati!e of wor'er femininity

hus& the sho$ floor is an im$ortant site inhus& the sho$ floor is an im$ortant site inthe feminization of transnational $roductionthe feminization of transnational $roduction


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/iscussion of the/iscussion of the

PhenomenonPhenomenon

As young women increasinglyAs young women increasingly

emerged as the wor'ers of choice inemerged as the wor'ers of choice in

global industries in the ;7s and 87s&global industries in the ;7s and 87s&

discussion of the $henomenondiscussion of the $henomenonflourishedflourished

E!en theorist who did not directlyE!en theorist who did not directly

focus on gender ac'nowledged thefocus on gender ac'nowledged the

distinct im$act of the newdistinct im$act of the new

organization of $roduction on womenorganization of $roduction on women

and menand men


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/iscussion Cont(/iscussion Cont(

.ore im$ortantly& the image of third1.ore im$ortantly& the image of third1world girls snatching "obs from first1world girls snatching "obs from first1world male breadwinners became aworld male breadwinners became aset $iece in $olitical rhetoric and aset $iece in $olitical rhetoric and a

magnet for first1world $ublic an#iety(magnet for first1world $ublic an#iety( Feminist social1scientists andFeminist social1scientists and

acti!ists began to analyze theacti!ists began to analyze thegendering of global $roduction moregendering of global $roduction more

systematically& arguing that thesystematically& arguing that the$rocess was as $roblematic for$rocess was as $roblematic forthose being drawn into $roduction asthose being drawn into $roduction asfor those being e#$elledfor those being e#$elled


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AnalysesAnalyses

,ne of the earliest analyses was a,ne of the earliest analyses was a

body of writings by leftists and socialbody of writings by leftists and social

feminists which became 'nown asfeminists which became 'nown as

the *new international di!ision ofthe *new international di!ision oflabor+ literaturelabor+ literature

)n 458< Annette Fuentes and)n 458< Annette Fuentes and

9arbara Ehrenreich $ublished a9arbara Ehrenreich $ublished a

$am$hlet&$am$hlet& Women in the GlobalWomen in the Global

Factory,Factory, which focused directly onwhich focused directly on

the reasons for this $redominancethe reasons for this $redominance


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Arguments of these writingsArguments of these writings

ransnational%s ability to e#tract high le!elsransnational%s ability to e#tract high le!elsof sur$lus !alue was contingent u$on itsof sur$lus !alue was contingent u$on itsaccess to chea$& docile& and de#terousaccess to chea$& docile& and de#terouswomen wor'ers(women wor'ers(

oung women were not merely useful tooung women were not merely useful toglobal $roduction& they were intrinsic to itsglobal $roduction& they were intrinsic to itso$erationo$eration

)t was in filling $roduction lines with)t was in filling $roduction lines withe#$loitable wor'ers that transnationale#$loitable wor'ers that transnationalfactories guaranteed the high $rofitfactories guaranteed the high $rofitmargins re2uired by late ca$italismmargins re2uired by late ca$italism


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Arguments Cont(Arguments Cont(

Ca$italism was seen as ha!ing aCa$italism was seen as ha!ing a

$arasitic relationshi$ to a $ree#isting$arasitic relationshi$ to a $ree#isting

and entrenched householdand entrenched household

$atriarchy$atriarchy 9y $iggybac'ing on family structures9y $iggybac'ing on family structures

which enabled women%s chea$ness&which enabled women%s chea$ness&

enforced their docility and trainedenforced their docility and trained

their nimble fingers& ca$italists madetheir nimble fingers& ca$italists made

sho$1floor managementsho$1floor management

unnecessaryunnecessary


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Arguments Cont(Arguments Cont(

Gender subordination lay at theGender subordination lay at the

heart of global $roduction%sheart of global $roduction%s

s'yroc'eting third1world $rofitss'yroc'eting third1world $rofits

wo im$lications:wo im$lications: Labor control $rocesses areLabor control $rocesses are

fundamentally sha$ed around thefundamentally sha$ed around the

gender of those hiredgender of those hired

Genders im$ortance increases as theGenders im$ortance increases as thesearch for chea$ labor accelerates insearch for chea$ labor accelerates in

res$onse to technological ad!ancesres$onse to technological ad!ances


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Criticisms of these argumentsCriticisms of these arguments

oo' category of *Woman+ for grantedoo' category of *Woman+ for granted Failed to 2uestion the notion that womanFailed to 2uestion the notion that woman

wor'ers necessarily would e#hibit a $redictablewor'ers necessarily would e#hibit a $redictableand consistent constellation of *feminine+ traitsand consistent constellation of *feminine+ traits

While denying femininity%s biological roots& theyWhile denying femininity%s biological roots& theyacce$ted its ine!itable and static natureacce$ted its ine!itable and static nature )n arguing that ca$ital is de$endent on its)n arguing that ca$ital is de$endent on its

access to women& they confused cause withaccess to women& they confused cause withconse2uenceconse2uence

/ocile and de#terous women are $roduced in/ocile and de#terous women are $roduced in

$roduction relations& they do not autonomously$roduction relations& they do not autonomouslyenable themenable them


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his Author%s Argumentshis Author%s Arguments

Gender is indeed a fundamentalGender is indeed a fundamentalelement of global $roduction butelement of global $roduction butnot in the way that thesenot in the way that these

authors claimauthors claim Femininity is a tro$eFemininity is a tro$e

A structure of meaning throughA structure of meaning through

which wor'ers& $otential andwhich wor'ers& $otential andactual& are addressed andactual& are addressed andunderstood& and around whichunderstood& and around which$roduction itself is designed$roduction itself is designed


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**Producti!e Femininity+Producti!e Femininity+

**he notion of $roducti!ehe notion of $roducti!e

femininity thus crystallizesfemininity thus crystallizes

through a $rocess of re$etiti!ethrough a $rocess of re$etiti!e

citation by transnationalcitation by transnationalmanagers and the im$erati!e tomanagers and the im$erati!e to

hire such wor'ers o$erates as ahire such wor'ers o$erates as a

creati!e force sha$ing bothcreati!e force sha$ing bothwor'ers and the technicalwor'ers and the technical

structure in which they wor'+structure in which they wor'+


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)n this conte#t=)n this conte#t=

-iring and labor control $rocesses emerge as-iring and labor control $rocesses emerge asmessages which address $otential wor'ers withinmessages which address $otential wor'ers withins$ecific understandings of who they are and whats$ecific understandings of who they are and whattheir wor' re2uirestheir wor' re2uires )f these rhetorics and $ractices resonate with those)f these rhetorics and $ractices resonate with those

hired& they sha$e sho$1floor sub"ecti!eshired& they sha$e sho$1floor sub"ecti!es )f they fail they sha$e sho$1floor chaos)f they fail they sha$e sho$1floor chaos hus& gendered sub"ecti!ity inter!enes in all le!els ofhus& gendered sub"ecti!ity inter!enes in all le!els of

the $rocess& from managerial decision ma'ing tothe $rocess& from managerial decision ma'ing towor'er com$liance or resistance& but it is ne!er fi#edwor'er com$liance or resistance& but it is ne!er fi#ed

/ocile labor cannot sim$ly be bought> it is $roduced&/ocile labor cannot sim$ly be bought> it is $roduced&or not& in the meaningful $ractices and rhetorics ofor not& in the meaningful $ractices and rhetorics of

sho$1floor lifesho$1floor life )t is in the daily routines of the sho$ floor that gender)t is in the daily routines of the sho$ floor that gender

sha$es $ossibilities& $rofits& and transnationalsha$es $ossibilities& $rofits& and transnational$roduction$roduction


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ransformed !iew of Genderransformed !iew of Gender

hroughout the 4587shroughout the 4587s

mainstream feminist theory wasmainstream feminist theory was

$rimarily concerned with$rimarily concerned with

challenging the $rimacy of se#challenging the $rimacy of se#

as a biological category andas a biological category and

subse2uently with analyzing thesubse2uently with analyzing the

causes of male dominationcauses of male domination


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3esults3esults

Gender%s fundamental inconsistency&Gender%s fundamental inconsistency&malleability& and fragmentation disa$$earedmalleability& and fragmentation disa$$earedfrom !iewfrom !iew

Wide differences in gendered meaningsWide differences in gendered meanings

recei!ed little em$irical attention or analysisrecei!ed little em$irical attention or analysis Commonalities between women of differingCommonalities between women of differing

class& race& and other social locations wereclass& race& and other social locations weree#aggerated as well as the le!el ofe#aggerated as well as the le!el ofconsistency in indi!idual women%sconsistency in indi!idual women%se#$erience of gender o!er the course of ae#$erience of gender o!er the course of alifetime or across social arenaslifetime or across social arenas


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3esults Cont(3esults Cont(

Shift in focus from genderedShift in focus from gendered

sub"ects to gendered meaningssub"ects to gendered meaningsLoo'ed at the symbolic logics andLoo'ed at the symbolic logics and

internal $atterns through which ainternal $atterns through which a

$articular discourse successfully$articular discourse successfully

*made sense+ of se#ed bodies*made sense+ of se#ed bodies


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?ew 2uestions?ew 2uestions

his mo!e made it $ossible tohis mo!e made it $ossible to

as' new 'inds of 2uestionsas' new 'inds of 2uestionsWhat is the hegemonic discourseWhat is the hegemonic discourse

within which managerswithin which managers

understand *women wor'ers+0understand *women wor'ers+0


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Conse2uencesConse2uences

he mo!e to the arena of meanings shifthe mo!e to the arena of meanings shiftfocus away from $racticesfocus away from $ractices

As a result& much of the social world wasAs a result& much of the social world wasleft out of analytical focus& with symbolicleft out of analytical focus& with symbolic

systems disconnected from those whosystems disconnected from those whoarticulate them and from the $racticesarticulate them and from the $racticesthrough which they are enactedthrough which they are enacted

heorists fell into recounting genderedheorists fell into recounting genderedcategories% history in isolation as if it theycategories% history in isolation as if it theye#isted in a uni!erse filled only by languagee#isted in a uni!erse filled only by language

his analytical focus misses the 2uestion ofhis analytical focus misses the 2uestion ofhow such categories are built and $racticedhow such categories are built and $racticedin daily interactionin daily interaction


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Conse2uences Cont(Conse2uences Cont(

/es$ite their commitment to/es$ite their commitment to

de!elo$ing a language ca$ablede!elo$ing a language ca$able

of describing gender in all itsof describing gender in all its

$al$able heterogeneity and$al$able heterogeneity andfluctuating significance& thesefluctuating significance& these

theorists were more li'ely to citetheorists were more li'ely to cite

than to e#$lore gender%sthan to e#$lore gender%sun$redictability andun$redictability and

inconsistencyinconsistency


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Gendered CategoriesGendered Categories

3emar'ably rigid and tenacious thus3emar'ably rigid and tenacious thus$laying a fundamental role in the$laying a fundamental role in thee#$erience of selfe#$erience of self

he content of these categories& howe!er&he content of these categories& howe!er&

is highly !ariable and their im$ortanceis highly !ariable and their im$ortancefluctuates widely across social situationsfluctuates widely across social situations

oo often the characteristics of theseoo often the characteristics of thesecategories are confused with their contentcategories are confused with their contentand o$erationsand o$erations

Gendered meanings are fluid& changingGendered meanings are fluid& changingwith social structure& intention and strugglewith social structure& intention and struggle


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Conce$tualizing GenderConce$tualizing Gender

When we conce$tualize gender we mustWhen we conce$tualize gender we muststart with the intractable and une2ualstart with the intractable and une2ualcategories through which sense is made ofcategories through which sense is made ofhuman bodies and social actionshuman bodies and social actions

he $articular traits that come to fill thosehe $articular traits that come to fill thosecategories are analytically secondarycategories are analytically secondary )t is the combination of omni$resent but)t is the combination of omni$resent but

mobile categories and !ariable contentmobile categories and !ariable contentwhich gi!es gender its tremendouswhich gi!es gender its tremendousca$acity to inter$ellate sub"ects across aca$acity to inter$ellate sub"ects across awide !ariety of social arenas and in thewide !ariety of social arenas and in theser!ice of a multitude of interests andser!ice of a multitude of interests andstrategiesstrategies


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@ariation in Content@ariation in Content

his !ariation in content is both ahis !ariation in content is both a

res$onse to local s$ecificities and ares$onse to local s$ecificities and a

structural element of how genderstructural element of how gender

wor's as a social $rocess o!erallwor's as a social $rocess o!erall Femininity and .asculinity areFemininity and .asculinity are

relational categories which o$eraterelational categories which o$erate

fundamentally through contrast withfundamentally through contrast with

each other whether or not thateach other whether or not that$rocess is made e#$licit in any$rocess is made e#$licit in any

$articular case$articular case


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Feminine on one le!el&Feminine on one le!el&

.asculine on the ne#t.asculine on the ne#t

Sewing leather glo!es in a factorySewing leather glo!es in a factory .asculine: in contrast to wor'ing in the.asculine: in contrast to wor'ing in the

homehome

Feminine: in the category of $aid wor' inFeminine: in the category of $aid wor' incontrast to construction wor'contrast to construction wor'

.asculine: in the category of garment.asculine: in the category of garment

$roduction in contrast to sewing lingerie$roduction in contrast to sewing lingerie

?one of these are inherently masculine?one of these are inherently masculineor feminine but the $rocess wherebyor feminine but the $rocess whereby

they become gendered is an inherentthey become gendered is an inherent

as$ect of how gender functionsas$ect of how gender functions


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What the author is demonstratingWhat the author is demonstrating

,f course gender !aries,f course gender !aries

throughout history and acrossthroughout history and across

the globe& the author wishes tothe globe& the author wishes to

demonstrate that it !aries acrossdemonstrate that it !aries acrossmuch smaller e#$anses ofmuch smaller e#$anses of

s$ace& time& and culture as well&s$ace& time& and culture as well&

as it is reconfigured in theas it is reconfigured in thestrategies& common sense& andstrategies& common sense& and

$ower struggles of actors$ower struggles of actors


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Author%s /emonstration Cont(Author%s /emonstration Cont(

Local rhetorics and $ractices ma'eLocal rhetorics and $ractices ma'ereference to larger framewor's but they doreference to larger framewor's but they donot necessarily re$roduce themnot necessarily re$roduce them

Gendered meaning structures !ary& notGendered meaning structures !ary& not

only in e#tension& but in their longe!ity andonly in e#tension& but in their longe!ity anddurability as welldurability as well

Some !ersions of femininity andSome !ersions of femininity andmasculinity s$an centuries or linguisticmasculinity s$an centuries or linguisticgrou$s& others are hammered out in angrou$s& others are hammered out in anindi!idual wor'$lace or family dissol!ingindi!idual wor'$lace or family dissol!ingand reconfiguring with a stri'e or di!orceand reconfiguring with a stri'e or di!orce


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Cont(Cont(

he dis$ersed origins and logics of the genderedhe dis$ersed origins and logics of the genderedmeaning structures which meet in a gi!en socialmeaning structures which meet in a gi!en socials$ace ha!e crucial im$lications for how femininitys$ace ha!e crucial im$lications for how femininityand masculinity are li!ed by indi!iduals on a dailyand masculinity are li!ed by indi!iduals on a dailybasisbasis

A gi!en locale can be home to a !ariety of genderedA gi!en locale can be home to a !ariety of genderedmeanings& some of which coincide and others whichmeanings& some of which coincide and others whichclash& and which !ary in both local im$ortance andclash& and which !ary in both local im$ortance ando!erall fi#ityo!erall fi#ity

hus although we usually remain *female+ or *male+hus although we usually remain *female+ or *male+as we mo!e across social s$ace& our e#$erienceas we mo!e across social s$ace& our e#$erienceand enactment of these categories can shift as weand enactment of these categories can shift as we

mo!e across a landsca$e or through a daymo!e across a landsca$e or through a day


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his @iew Seen in thehis @iew Seen in the

.a2uilas.a2uilas

he e#$licitly and em$hatically feminized nature of thehe e#$licitly and em$hatically feminized nature of theindustry as a whole means that factories within it areindustry as a whole means that factories within it arenecessarily mar'ed as either feminine or masculine& asnecessarily mar'ed as either feminine or masculine& asthey are categorized either in terms of& or in contrast tothey are categorized either in terms of& or in contrast tothis gendered bac'groundthis gendered bac'ground

he meanings of wor' and a$$ro$riateness of wor'erhe meanings of wor' and a$$ro$riateness of wor'er

beha!ior are established on each sho$1floor in genderedbeha!ior are established on each sho$1floor in genderedtermsterms hus& although wor'ers belong to a single geogra$hic&hus& although wor'ers belong to a single geogra$hic&

cultural and industrial demogra$hic& the sub"ects thatcultural and industrial demogra$hic& the sub"ects thatemerge in different ma2uilas e#$ress and incarnateemerge in different ma2uilas e#$ress and incarnatedistinct sho$1floor femininities and masculinitiesdistinct sho$1floor femininities and masculinities

)n a gi!en ma2uilla the relati!ely durable discource of)n a gi!en ma2uilla the relati!ely durable discource of

$roducti!e femininity that circulates among transnational$roducti!e femininity that circulates among transnationalmanagers coe#ists not only with a distinct discourse aboutmanagers coe#ists not only with a distinct discourse aboutwomen wor'ers% $romiscuity generated among local elites&women wor'ers% $romiscuity generated among local elites&but also with the more circumscribed& and therefore lessbut also with the more circumscribed& and therefore lessstable& gendered $roduction system of a $articular sho$stable& gendered $roduction system of a $articular sho$floorfloor


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Com$le#ity of Gender at Wor'Com$le#ity of Gender at Wor'

Gras$ing the $roducti!e andGras$ing the $roducti!e and$ersonal conse2uences of gender in$ersonal conse2uences of gender inthe industry re2uires delineating thethe industry re2uires delineating thetransnational tro$e of femininity as ittransnational tro$e of femininity as it

emerges in the city& its idiosyncraticemerges in the city& its idiosyncraticincarnations on indi!idual sho$ floorsincarnations on indi!idual sho$ floorsand its conse2uences for the dailyand its conse2uences for the dailywor' li!es of the sho$ floorwor' li!es of the sho$ floorinhabitantsinhabitants

,nly in this way can we ca$ture the,nly in this way can we ca$ture thefundamental com$le#ity of gender atfundamental com$le#ity of gender atwor'wor'


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9linded by Gendered9linded by Gendered

Categories0Categories0

Gendered categories are indeedGendered categories are indeed

$ersistent& rigid& intractable and$ersistent& rigid& intractable and

$roducti!e$roducti!e

-owe!er& these characteristics-owe!er& these characteristics

should not blind us to theshould not blind us to the

categories% em$tiness and thuscategories% em$tiness and thus

to their e#treme conte#tualto their e#treme conte#tual!ariation in content and function!ariation in content and function


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-ow Femininity and-ow Femininity and

.asculinity are defined=.asculinity are defined=

Femininity and .asculinity areFemininity and .asculinity aredefined through multi$le anddefined through multi$le andsimultaneous struggles o!er $owersimultaneous struggles o!er $owerand desire& often occurring at !aryingand desire& often occurring at !arying

s$eedss$eeds )n some social arenas they are e#$licit)n some social arenas they are e#$licit

areas of contestareas of contest )n others& goals and intentions are)n others& goals and intentions are

focused elsewhere& but genderedfocused elsewhere& but gendered

meanings emerge as by$roductsmeanings emerge as by$roducts )n either case& sub"ecti!ities and)n either case& sub"ecti!ities and

structures of $ower are constitutedstructures of $ower are constitutedthrough their in!ocationthrough their in!ocation


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Gendered categories !ersusGendered categories !ersus

gendered meaningsgendered meanings

)t is $recisely this duality1the)t is $recisely this duality1the

rigidity of gendered categoriesrigidity of gendered categories

!ersus the malleability and!ersus the malleability and

!ariation of gendered meanings1!ariation of gendered meanings1that accounts for the centralitythat accounts for the centrality

and weight of gender inand weight of gender in

$roduction$roduction


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Author%s Conclusions aboutAuthor%s Conclusions about

theorytheory )n thin'ing of women as fi#ed $roduction in$uts& com$arable in

function to tem$ered steel or $recut cloth& analysts of global$roduction fundamentally misunderstood both the $rocess oflabor control and the nature of gendered selfhood(

he content of womanhood or manhood does not inhere inthe indi!idual but rather emerges in a changeable& multi1le!eledset of enacted meaning structures which cite a $articular notion

of gender and e!o'e indi!idual femininities and masculinities inthat time and s$ace( A gi!en indi!idual& o$erating in a gi!en social arena& will $ractice

a $articular !ersion of femininity or masculinity that will ha!esomething in common with what that $erson $ractices elsewhere&but it will be fundamentally restructured within the meaningful$ractices of the current locale(

Since gendered enactments are always simultaneously similar

and different across time and s$ace& the e#tent to which onechooses to focus on one of these characteristics is a theoreticaland $olitical rather than an em$irically moti!ated decision


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Author%s Conclusions Cont(Author%s Conclusions Cont(

*)n my "udgment& the essential similarities betweenwomen wor'ing throughout transnational $roductionhas been o!erem$hasized& increasing genderBs!isibility at the cost of undermining our ca$acity torecognize how gender functions in this conte#t(-ence& ) ha!e chosen to foreground the crucial

differences in gendered meanings and sub"ecti!itiesthat emerge e!en in closely situated arenas( hisstrategy allows us to shift our 2uestions( 3atherthan as'ing how womenBs $atriarchally $roducedfemininity is made $rofitable& we as' instead howgendered meanings emerge and are $racticed& and

how $rofitable& gendered sub"ects are e!o'ed withinthem(+


43/44

Author%s Conclusions aboutAuthor%s Conclusions about

transnational $roductiontransnational $roduction

he current structure of transnational$roduction may well be gendered inthe aggregate& but a sociologicalunderstanding of how this gendering

$rocess wor's& and to what ends&re2uires immersion in the s$ecific( ,n global sho$ floors managers

access what is $ossible and

acce$table in gendered terms&measuring efficiency and $roducti!ityin regards to the global icon of$roducti!e femininity


44/44

Author%s Conclusions Cont(Author%s Conclusions Cont(

*) am struc' by the $redominance of women in theglobal factory( nli'e those analysts& ) see this$redominance not as a function of who women areDor ha!e been trained to be& but of the way in whichgender structures $roduction o!erall( hus& ratherthan seeing millions of women $o$ulating global

$roduction lines& ) see a $roduction $rocess mar'edas feminine1assembly1re$lacing a $re!ious$rocess mar'ed as masculine1manufacturing1withclear conse2uences both for third1world wor'ersBrights and e#$eriences of self and for first1world$rofits and $rices( his distinction is not merely

semantic> it also ma'es !isible im$ortant social$rocesses(+

producing women femininity on the line

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