SELECTED LITERATURE RESOURCES
Due to space limitations, we have further articles and resources which appear neither in this bulletin, nor in our documentation packet, but which are available for a small fee (to cover postage and handling). Write us for further information
Women Workers in Multinational Corporations: The Case of the Electronics Industry in Malaysia and Singapore Linda Y.C. Lim, Occasional Paper IX Women's Studies Program
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
Michigan 48109
USA. 1978.
This 60 page study examines female-intensive manufacturing
for export by multinational firms, effects of multinational corporate
employment on women workers, and its impact on
women's position in developing countries. It concludes that
this type of female industrial employment benefits neither the
women themselves nor the host countries.
Social and Labour Bulletin no. 1, March 1982 International Labour Office ILO Publications CH-1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland.
One whole section of this quarterly publication is devoted to the effects of new technologies, in a series of brief articles on nine different industrialised countries. They draw on important sources and give insights into what governments especially are doing in terms of policy.
Your Job in the Eighties A Woman's Guide to New Technology Ursula Huws/Leeds TUCRIC Pluto Press Unit 10 Spencer Court Chalcot Road London NW1 8LH
England. 1982.
"At the Carrington-Vizella Unit One textile mill, 90 people have been doing work which previously required 430. This is just one example of what new technology can do - and fully one third of all women's jobs might be eliminated by its introduction." Your Job in the Eighties looks at this kind of impact of new technology on women's jobs, and also the health effects. The new technology is examined in relation to the recession, public spending cuts and Britain's declining industrial base.
The author has provided a readable, practical guide to help women understand how new technology will affect their jobs, and gives a detailed checklist of what to do about the new technology and what to demand from employers.
"Women and Chips" Spare Rib, no. 83, June 1979 27 Clerkenwell Close - , London EC1 OAT England.
A basic article describing what microtechnology is and how it is affecting women's lives in Britain, this concentrates on the development of word processors, minicomputers using silicon chips. It concludes that their use will create more alienating work conditions and health problems for office workers, who are mainly women.
"Life on the Global Assembly Line" Barbara Ehrenreich and Annette Fuentes Ms. Magazine, January 1981 370 Lexington Avenue ' New York New York 10017 USA.
Examining electronics and textile multinationals in particular, this 7 page article gives an excellent overview of the operations of these industries both in the USA and in the third world and what it means to be a woman worker in these factories. It also looks at how United Nations agencies, the World Bank and the United States government promote the multinational corporations in the third world and, thus, the exploitative conditions for women workers. In conclusion, the authors look at how women are beginning to organize and fight back and some attempts at linking first world feminists and women struggling against multinationals in other parts of the world.
Asia Monitor Resource Center 2 Man Wan Road - - 17-C Kowloon Hong Kong. -
Concerned about health in ELECTRONICS? The Asia Monitor Resource Center will soon make available two publications — a Primer and a Case Study report — on the problems of health and chemical hazards in the electronics industry. Though the publications have a special focus on Asia, much of the information is applicable worldwide. Since women workers are by far the majority of those employed in electronics manufacturing, these publications may be of particular interest to you.
The Primer is a handbook combining all essential information about the jobs, health hazards, and appropriate protective measures. It gives special attention to the hundreds of chemicals used in the industry, the companies and how to use information about them, and the corporate strategy in Asia which is responsible in part for the job conditions of the electronics workers. A highly useful tool for those dealing directly with electronics workers and their health problems.
The Case Study is the story of how a community health center in Hong Kong attempted to take action on the problem of health hazards in the electronics industry, and of the problems they encountered in their efforts. The booklet provides a description of the conditions in Hong Kong which have been at the root of the problem and which have served as an obstacle to the health center. Also available in Chinese.
Balai Vol. II, no. 4 P.O. Box SM.366 Manila Philippines.
This issue of Bali is devoted to Women in Asia. Articles on women workers in Asia include a statistical picture of women electronic workers: their wages and working conditions contrasted with the cost of living, as well as an illustrated "Cheap Asian Female Labor and the 'Run Away' Shops". In this issue too are articles on Philippines migration and the "geopolitics of prostitution". A valuable source of information. Subscriptions: Third World, US$4; other countries US$6.
Microelectronics at Work: Productivity and Jobs in the World Economy olin Norman, WorldWatch Paper no. 39 /Vorldwatch Institute .1776 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 USA. October 1980.
The first part of this 63 page pamphlet describes the development of the microelectronics industry and the innovations this is bringing to the factory and the office. The second part explores the implications this has for workers, productivity, employment and the world economy. Accepting the microelectronic revolution as inevitable and essentially beneficial, the author points out a number of issues which must be dealt with if "the benefits... are to be equitably shared."
"Les Femmes et la Science" Penelope no. 4, printemps 1981 Groupe d'Etudes Feministes de I'Universit^ Paris 7 et du Centre de Recherches Historiques de I'Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales Tour 34, 34—44, 3eme etage 75005 Paris France.
A collection of articles of feminist reflection on science with a herstorical overview and implications for today. Also a good list of resources from different countries and a bibliography.
New technologies: Their impact on employment and the working environment International Labour Office ILO Publications CH-1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland. 1982.
This special publication is a reprint of all the Social and Labour Bulletin (see above) articles dealing with the repercussions of new technology since 1979. They attempt to show the context in which the current debate on the implications of new technology is taking place. They illustrate how both the people and organisations affected are reacting and describe national initiatives, international preoccupations, industry reactions, safety and health implications and the views of users and academics.
Listed alphabetically by country, the articles are grouped under six main headings: general policy issues; privacy protection; trade union viewpoint; labour relations and collective agreements; employment, training and qualifications; work environment. Just a few of the articles deal specifically with women, but the whole book is helpful in designating the issues as a whole.
"Qui a peur de I'ordinateur?" Remue-Menage no. 5, April 1980 c/o Nicole Canot 20 rue d'Hautevilie 75010 Paris , France.
A "dossier" of articles covering various aspects: the history of putting information on machines, the effect of this on women at work - in various industries and in the unions, the way computerized information can be used to centralize power over both productivity and people, the division between manual and intellectual work, and some statistics on the number of women involved in computerized information work and their level of job. Also looks at computerization of new areas such as the home, school, office work at a distance.