Income access meet women’s practical and strategic needs
Under what conditions does access to resources/income meet women’s practical and strategic needs/interests? In your answer, be sure to outline up front your argument about the conditions under which access to material resources (like loans, income, etc) meets women’s practical and strategic interests. Be sure also to define practical and strategic interests, and draw on examples from at least TWO of the following topics to illustrate: microcredit, global assembly lines, sex work, international aid/development.
Sample Solution
Access to resources and income can have a positive effect on women’s practical and strategic interests provided they are provided with the correct conditions. Practical interests involve those aspects which improve day-to-day lives such as basic needs like food, shelter, health care etc. Strategic interests involve decisions related to achieving medium or long term goals for example career aspirations (Whitehead & Robinson ,2017). Therefore in order for material resources such as income/loans to benefit women it is essential that the terms of use be advantageous enough so that both short and long term targets are achievable .
One method in which access to resources has served women ‘s practical needs is through microcredit programs. This type of loan allows small businesses to obtain capital without having to go through traditional banks (KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN 2019).. As a result this makes it easier for female entrepreneurs who may not have otherwise been able to acquire funds due perceived lack of collateral security ( KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN 2019). By providing these business owners with financial assistance they can take advantage of economic opportunities thus improving their quality of life.
Similarly, another way in which access to income has benefited women strategically is through global assembly lines (Oh 2009). Due the nature of these production systems where goods are created by workers around the world many low paid female employees from developing countries stand to gain economically as there wages tend be higher than those offered domestically(Oh 2009) . Furthermore, due to increasing levels of automation within factories more skilled roles become available thereby allowing staff greater control over decision making processes within their own workplace (Oh 2009).
In conclusion therefore, when assessing how best material resources serve womens’ practical and strategic interests it is important that all terms/conditions associated with any particular program be examined carefully before implementation takes place.. Ultimately only when necessary safeguards have been put into place will individuals benefit fully from any economic activity conducted.
