China's Ascension to WTO: Challenges for Women in the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors

China's Ascension to WTO: Challenges for Women in the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors

August 13, 2013

Many countries' experience has shown that globalization tends to have a different impact on women and men, depending on their social and economic positions and their access to and control over resources. While some women enjoy greater economic opportunities, others are exposed to increased vulnerabilities. By and large, women lose out during the transitional period.

Aware that integrating a gender perspective into the formulation, the implementation and monitoring process of China's future reforms is indispensable. The four institutions developed this partnership to examine the differential impacts of WTO on women and men in China. In January 2002, they launched "China's Accession to WTO: Challenges for Women," the first gender-focused WTO project in China. This report presents the key findings in the hope that gender issues will find greater attention as the administrative system and institutions cope with the impact of globalization on China's economy and society.

The General Report summarizes and synthesizes the findings of these two teams, the agricultural sector and the industrial sector. Each of the three chapters concludes with specific policy recommendations aimed at lessening the adverse impact on women brought about by China's accession to the WTO. Two seperate reports cover, in detail, the findings of each team on the agricultural and industrial sectors. These reports can also be downloaded, via the links to the right.