ABSTRACT
Globalization does not affect everyone equally. Whether we focus on its cultural social, economic or political impact, we cannot help but notice that some benefit more than others, and some suffer ill-effects more than others do. Globalization can exacerbate conflicts of interest that already exist in societies before they are subject to the transforming pull of external economies, politics and cultures. It can also create new areas of tension as it stimulates new arenas for competition and creates new criteria for status, wealth and the exercise of power. For example, as Sung-Nam Cho points out, globalization has been a mixed blessing for the women of Korea. Integration into global economic and social relations has opened up whole new avenues for women to contribute to their nation’s economy, and to be compensated financially for doing so. Thanks to the globalization of the Korean economy, Korean women today have many more choices regarding what kind of work they will engage in than their ancestors in premodern Korea could have even dreamed of. For example, they can now work in factories or offices. However, they still do not have as many opportunities for financial autonomy as do men, nor are the financial rewards they can expect from their work normally as lucrative as the rewards men receive. Moreover, they are more likely than men to be laid off when there is a downturn in the economy.
