Transformations in the International Economy, Trade and Gender: A Case Study of Female Participation in the Bangladeshi Garment Industry

Based on the premise that the roles of men and women are distinct in the economy, and, at the same time, that they are reinforced by political decisions and by social structure, the objective of this work is to investigate what was the role of female participation in the Bangladeshi garment industry for the country's successful economic performance between 1980s and 2020. Relying on a heterodox analytical perspective and using a case study, I demonstrate that there has been no significant technological progress, productive diversification nor economic development in Bangladesh at the pace of the country's GDP growth rates. In addition, the increased demand for female labor in the garment industry, a key sector of the economy, has not removed women from the condition of dependence or subordination to men, since gender inequalities persist in the country's labor market.