Feminism and teaching about globalization: contradictions and insights

Feminist analyses have shown that we need to understand the ways globalization not only oppresses women but opens up new spaces of possibility, including the possibility of escaping patriarchal, racist and classist structures. This paper briefly introduces some analyses which work towards such understandings, and argues that they are important for teaching 'first world' students about 'third world' women and realities. The paper argues for more careful and critical attention to dominant constructions of women in the south and of the effects of globalization, in order to promote education for social justice.