Globalization and trade liberalization bring complex and often contradictory effects on women’s access to employment, livelihood and income. In some cases, they generate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for women; in others, they create burdens by disrupting markets in which women operate. Women’s education and skill accumulation seem to be the most important factors determining the impact of trade on women’s economic and social empowerment. Trade policies clearly have discrete impacts on women, yet they have long been gender-blind. Although mainstreaming gender in trade policy is a more recent endeavour, there is a quite large experience in mainstreaming other issues in trade policy. The lessons learned through these experiences may prove useful when mainstreaming gender in trade policy.
Journal of World Trade