Globalization and Violence against Women: The Missing Girls of India

Globalization of the economies has long been hailed as an apparatus that generates and maintains a level-playing field for both genders. It is argued that freer the markets become, the higher will be the opportunities for women to be empowered. Therefore, women will be more enlightened economically and will gain agency. As various forms of violence against women do not show any sign of decline, this article asks a fundamental question about the role of globalization. We examine whether the forces of globalization inadvertently play the role of an ally in the rise of violence against women. This article focuses on an extreme form of gender violence, namely, female foeticide, in India to show how the access to cheap technology may enhance such violence.