IS221_Week TWELVE_2024

IS221 & LBST 201dr nazanin shahrokni, 2024

Announcements

On the agenda next week- graded second essays will be returned- course review and wrap up- a walk through your final exam (Dec 10, 12-3PM)- other matters?

Labor protests:workersdemandjustice

1. What kinds of claims are prioritized in relation to women workers?

Women workers' claims largely revolve around politics of redistribution. They often intersect with politics of recognition, demands for “dignity, respect, & equality.”There are variations based on the context and sector.In the formal sector (e.g. factory workers), claims often center on “wage fairness”, “job security”, and “improved workplace conditions”.For informal workers (e.g., domestic workers, home-based laborers), claims prioritize “recognition as workers”, “access to legal protections”, and “social benefits” (e.g., healthcare, pensions).Women’s unpaid or underpaid labor in caregiving (childcare, eldercare) often leads to claims for “state support”, such as affordable childcare or paid parental leave.

2. Who is making these Claims?

In contexts where women are underrepresented in traditional unions, grassroots organizations and worker-led groups often spearhead claims-making. In the formal sector, trade unions often make claims for wage increases or safer working conditions, though they are sometimes criticized for failing to include women’s specific needs.NGOs and international networks play a crucial role in amplifying women’s voices on global platforms.International organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) advocate for global labor standards, such as the 2011 Domestic Workers Convention (C189).

3. To whom are these claims addressed?

The claims are directed toward multiple stakeholders, depending on the scale and context of the issue: Employers and Corporations: Claims for fair wages, workplace safety, and respect are often directed at employers, who control working conditions and pay.Workers often demand that governments enforce labor laws, extend protections to informal sectors, and provide social safety nets.Some claims are addressed to international bodies and global organizations (e.g., ILO, UN), particularly when local governments are unresponsive or complicit in exploitation.Advocacy campaigns often target consumers in wealthier nations to pressure multinational corporations for fair labor practices.

4. What strategies are pursued to advance these claims?

The strategies used vary based on the resources and opportunities available to women workers and their allies. Organizing and UnionizingLegal ChallengesGlobal Alliances Everyday Resistance

5. Which claims are heard & acted on—and which go unheard?

Claims aligned with global consumer movements or corporate social responsibility (CSR) agendas are often heard & acted on.Claims that leverage international legal frameworks (e.g., ILO conventions) also gain traction, particularly when supported by global advocacy networks.Claims made by women in informal & unregulated sectors often go unheard due to their invisibility in formal labor systems. Demands for structural change face significant resistance from entrenched power tructures.The voices of the most marginalized women—those in informal, precarious, or unpaid labor—are often sidelined in favor of claims that are easier to integrate into existing systems.

1. What stood out to you about the women’s experiences?2. How do their stories connect to the themes in Kabeer’s paper?3. What can be done to address the issues raised in the documentary?

See you next week for our last session!

The end is near!

Think about framing&agenda setting

workshopping course concepts

INDIA's FARMERS LAUNCHED A MOVEMENT & WON

6. Counter-FRames

5. Framing: Diagnostic, prognostic, motivational

4. Demands for justice: 3Rs Recognition + Redistribution + Representation

Read the articles in pairs and discuss using our course concepts, particularly our recent discussions on demands for justice (3Rs) and framing

Take note of the following concepts

WORKSHOP

3. migrant workers

2. the state, "Mini spiders" & Global governance

1. overall impression