Trade Openness Economic Risk and Gender Equality Perceptions in Developing Countries

• In Event: Trade and Gender

Abstract

Why economic globalization shapes ones' view on gender equality, especially when it concerns gender equality in work? In this paper, we offer a political economy perspective on how trade
openness and domestic labor market risk jointly shape gender equality perceptions in developing countries. Trade openness, as one essential element of economic globalization is thought to be an equalizing force in the labor market that promotes gender equality values. However, labor market competition and unemployment risks in open economy might amplify men’s need in securing jobs more than that of women’s, thus lead to an increase in prejudice against women’s equal rights in workplace. Using multiple waves of survey data from World Value Survey between 1990 to 2020, we connect individual-level gender equality perceptions to country-level measures of trade openness, labor market competition, and unemployment risk in developing countries. Results from a series of statistical models suggest trade openness equalizes gender equality perceptions, while labor market competition exacerbates prejudice against women’s equal rights in the economic realm. We also find that individuals in countries with greater female legislative representation tend to be more likely to embrace gender equality values than those from countries with lower level of female political representation. Our research sheds light on the important economic and institutional
foundations of gender equality perceptions in the developing world.

Authors

• Li Zheng, Yunnan University

• Ling Zhu, University of Houston