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Asian Studies Course Development Proposal: Gender, Labor and Migration in Southeast Asia

Labor migration has been depicted as a South-North movement of men in search of work. Participation of
women in international migration has been traditionally characterized as the “trailing spouse” of a husband
who has found permanent placement in a receiving country. As statistical evidence of the movement of
women has become more precise, this myth has been dispelled (Zlotnik 1998). Recent UN estimates show
that 51% of migrants today are female. The following course proposal, tentatively entitled Gender, Labor and
Migration in Southeast Asia, outlines a class, presented either as an online offering or as a seminar. The
course focuses on the relationship between globalization, gender, and labor migration in Southeast Asia. The
course could carry a Global Perspectives (GL) marker, a Writing Intensive (WI) marker and could be cross-
listed with Sociology (Global Social Problems), Women and Gender Studies, and International Global Studies.
The proposed course is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon Asian Studies, Women’s Studies, Labor,
Globalization, and Migration literatures.

Summary

In vivo: The class would be conducted in a seminar/workshop format, emphasizing an interactive learning
environment. The course would include student-led class discussions, individual reaction papers to topics
presented in the readings and discussions, guest lectures by regional/local experts, documentary films on the
issue of feminization of migration, group projects, and a final paper. Readings would be presented in a
student-led discussion format where the instructor will serve as moderator/facilitator helping to guide the
students through an inductive process emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, and discovery. Short
reaction papers would be written afterward to reinforce theoretical understanding of the topics presented, as
well as to encourage students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the theories and methods they have
learned.

Online: The course could be conducted with many of the same elements of the seminar/workshop format.
Live as well as asynchronous online discussions, individual student reaction papers presented as Weblog
entries, streaming media (such as clips from the more than 85 hours of video collected by the instructor),
documentary films on the issue of feminization of migration, group projects, and a final paper would be
possible. Readings again would be presented in a discussion format, online, where the student facilitator
provides guiding questions to encourage input and the instructor acts as a moderator and facilitator to guide
the discussion.

Tentative Course Outline

Goals and Objectives:

This course is intended to help you learn about the relationship between globalization, gender, and labor
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migration in Southeast Asia. Instruction will take the form of a participatory seminar with a minimum of lecture
and an emphasis on discussion and inductive learning experiences. As a class we will work together on
developing a country-by-country understanding of the gendered nature of labor and migration. We will
explore the rapid transitions that have occurred in the region as these countries have been reshaped by the
processes of globalization. We will focus then on the outcomes of these structural changes as they impact
women and men’s roles, reorganize the family, and spark labor movements especially among women.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1Summarize the major theories of international labor migration

2Explain how the processes of globalization have resulted in increased migration of women in the
region
3Explain the specific factors that have resulted in increased regional migration in Southeast Asia
4Describe the impact of the feminization of migration on families and home countries
5Critically assess the social movements and NGOs that lobby for labor rights and women’s rights
in the region
Grading:

Assessing your progress on achieving the learning outcomes will occur through the grading of the following
activities:

• Discussions 20% (200 pts)

• Reaction Papers or Weblogs 20% (200pts)

• Collaborative Group Project 25% (250 pts)

• Individual Research Papers 25% (250 pts)

• Attendance or Commenting on Weblogs 10% (100 pts)

Discussions:

As this class is structured more like a seminar than a lecture, you will be required to discuss the reading
materials. Therefore, keeping up with the reading materials is a must. Students will be assigned in pairs to
lead the class discussions twice during the semester. Thoughtful preparation of discussion questions will
earn you 75 pts each time (150 pts total). The remaining 50 pts will be earned by evidence of reading
through your active participation in these discussions.

Reaction Papers:

For each of the modules you will write a short reaction paper (or weblog entry). These papers will be 2-3
pages in length (Times New Roman, 12 pt, standard margins, MLA or ASA citations). You will summarize the
readings and discussions for the module and then give your personal reaction to the topic. There will be eight
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of these short papers (entries) due. Each will count for up to 25 pts. for a total of 200 pts (20% of your final
grade).

Group Projects:

You will be assigned to a small research team. Your team will be responsible for collecting and reporting
information on gendered migration to/from a particular country in Southeast Asia (Japan, Korea, China,
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.). More details on this
project will be given in a later handout in class. Successful completion of the assignment is worth 250 pts.
(25 % of final grade).

Research Paper:
A central component of this course is to develop expertise in a particular topical area of on the nature of
feminized labor migration. Thus, there will be one assigned research paper due at the end of the semester.
You will have a chance to choose a topic from the major areas covered in the course (see list of modules)
and focus more in depth on one of the issues discussed in that area. Papers are required to be between
2000-3000 words (not including citations, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman font). Please pay
careful attention to grammar and structure of your paper. Be sure to begin with an introduction, with a clear
thesis statement, move through a body section with logical support for your argument, and finally conclude
with a restatement of the thesis and an explanation of how it was proven in the paper. At least five scholarly
sources are required, these may included journal articles, conference papers, scholarly books, and textbooks
(beyond those used in class). Sources beyond the five required may also include magazine and newpaper
articles (from well-know, respected sources only). Please use the ASA or MLA Format (see ASA Style Guide
at http://www.calstatela.edu/library/bi/rsalina/asa.styleguide.html) when citing materials. Elements of the
paper will be due throughout the course:
1. Topic selection (10 pts)
2. Subtopic selection (10 pts)
3. Bibliography of initial five sources (formatted in ASA style) (25 pts)
4. Thesis statement (5 pts)
5. Brief (5 min) presentation of paper topic to class including 2-3 Power Point slides (50 pts)
6. Rough draft of paper (50 pts)
7. Final paper (100 pts)

Attendance:
Attendance is required. Attendance is vitally important for the understanding of the material and participation
in the class discussions. Attendance will be taken on five random occasions throughout the semester. These
attendance checks will count for 20 pts each for a total of 100 pts (10% of the final grade).

Religious/Cultural Holidays:

You have the right to observe major religious/cultural holidays without penalty. At least one week before the
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holiday, you should submit a written statement that includes both the date of the holiday and the reason why
class attendance is impossible. Prior arrangements must be made. If prior arrangements have been made,
you will not be penalized.

Illness:

If you are absent due to personal illness, or illness of a dependent, you must provide written documentation
to that effect. Acceptable documentation includes doctor’s note (on office letterhead), hospital record, or
records from a recognized medical/healthcare agency.

Special Needs and Considerations:

Please let me know at the beginning of the semester if you have a physical or learning disability that may
need accommodations. The college will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented
disabilities. Students should also notify Student Services of any special needs.
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Tentative Overview of Course

Proposed Modules:
Module 1: The Global Labor Market
Module 2: International Labor Migration and Transnationalism
Module 3: The Feminization of Migration in Southeast Asia
Module 4: The Global Economy, Export Processing Zones in Asia, and Women Factory Workers
Module 5: Gendered Work: Nannies, Maids, Sex Workers, and Entertainers
Module 6: Poverty, Development, and Remittances: Women as National Heroes
Module 7: The Men at Home and the Impact of Gendered Migrations on the Family
Module 8: NGOs, Rights Movements, and Collective Action

Possible readings:
Agarwal, Anuja 2006. Migrant Women And Work. Sage
Arya Sadhna. 2006. Poverty, Gender and Migration - Business & Economics
Chadha, Navnita Behera 2006. Gender, Conflict and Migration. Sage
Ehrenreich, Barbara and Arlie Hochschild (Eds) 2002. Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in
the New Economy. Owl Books.
Hewison, Kevin J. and Ken Young. 2006.Transnational Migration And Work in Asia -
Khoo, Siew-Ean, Peter McDonald, Carmen Voigt-Graf, Graeme Hugo. 2007. “ A Global Labour Market.”
International Migration Review.
Piper, Nicola and Mina Roces. 2003. Wife Or Worker?: Asian Women and Migration. Rowman & Littlefield

Salazar Parreñas, Rhacel. 2001. Servants of Globalization: Women, Migration and Domestic Work.
Stanford University Press.

Salazar Parreñas, Rhacel. 2005 Children of Global Migration. Stanford University Press.

Sassen, Saskia. 1998. “Globalization and Its Discontents.”The New Press.

Sassen, Saskia. 2000 "Women's Burden: Countergeographies of Globalization and the Feminization of
survival." Journal of International Affairs. 53(2): 503-524.
Sharpe Pamela 2001. Women, Gender and Labour Migration: Historical and Global Perspectives
Sook, Dong and Shin Gills 2003. Women and Work in Globalising Asia
Stalker, Peter 2000. Workers Without Frontiers: The impact of globalization on international migration
Wee, Vivienne and Amy Sim. 2003 “Transnational labour networks in female labour migration: mediating
between Southeast Asian women workers and international labour markets” Southeast Asia
Research Centre Working Papers Series Paper