An Overview
► The emergence of transnational feminism—notwithstanding cultural ,class, and ideological differences among the women of the world—is viewed by some analysts as the logical result of globalization and the universal fact of gender inequality
► Interaction among feminist groups has been facilitated by five world conferences on women between 1975 and 2000, numerous regional pre-preparatory meetings, the participation of many women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the UN conferences of the 1990s, concerns over increasingly economic difficult situation and use of the new information and communication technologies.
► Feminist groups are engaged in information exchange, mutual support and a combination of lobbying, advocacy and direct action towards the realization of their goals of equality and empowerment for women and social justice and societal democratization.
► The concerted action since the late 1980s of networks including DAWN and WIDE in opposition to structural adjustment policies and the activities of the international financial institutions in developing countries has forced the World Bank to make important concessions on gender and social issues.
► Feminist groups link developing and developed countries. They are tackling both the particularistic trends of globalization and criticizing  oppression, unsustainable economic growth and consumption.
► “Transnational feminist networks include Network Women in Development Europe (WIDE), based in Brussels and consisting of 12 national branches; Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), based in the Caribbean and with active branches in Latin America and South Asia; Women Working Worldwide, a coordinating group based in London; the International Association for Feminist Economics and the International Women’s Tribune Center, both based in the United States; the Asia-Pacific Research and Resource Organization for Women (ARROW), based in Kuala Lumpur; Women Living Under Muslim Laws, based in Montpelier, France, and with an active branch, Shirkat Gahin Lahore, Pakistan; ISIS International Women’s Information and Communication Ser-vice, with one center in Quezon City, Philippines, and another in Santiago, Chile.
 
 
Glossary of Terms
  DAWN
  "Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era was formed in 1985 and consists of individuals and groups in Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia and Southeast Asia. DAWN has focused much of its activity on two issues: economic policy (especially its critique of structural adjustment and the international financial institutions) and reproductive rights and population policy. DAWN are very active in international economic circles, where they try to influence economic decision-making”.
  WLUML
  "Women Living Under Muslim Laws was also formed in 1985 and is an international network of individuals and groups that monitors the status of women in Muslim countries, as well as Muslim women living else-where. It is a secular, anti-fundamentalist organization that largely emphasizes women’s human rights issues”.
  WIDE
  "Network Women in Development Europe was also established in 1985;its members are women’s groups in the European countries and its secretariat is in Brussels. Its focus is on development assistance and the global economy, with a feminist critique of economic theory and of European and U.S. trade and foreign aid policies”.
  WEDO
  "Women’s Environment and Development Organization goal is “to make women more visible as equal participants, experts and leaders in policy-making from the community to the international level, and in formulating alternative, healthy, and peaceful solutions to world problems. ”
  WEDO's Gender Agenda for the WTO
Mandate inclusion of women and gender in economic decision-making and governance
Strengthen women's capacity to attain economic equity
Protect women's control over their health and safety
Prevent TNC exploitation of women's indigenous knowledge and plant genetic resources
  WEDO Says
►  Women should be equally represented in WTO decision-making bodies and governments should work for gender balance in their WTO delegations.
►  The WTO should conduct a gender assessment of the effects of trade liberalization on women, highlighting harmful policies and building on areas where women have benefited from increased trade.
►  Governments should incorporate the views of civil society organizations in the formulation of national trade policies and in all issues and options under discussion at the WTO. (El-Khwaga,L.1999  and Lim L. 1999)
   
 
More Resources
► Abdel Hadi, Aisha (1996) Women and the Trade Unions, The Obstacles and Problems facing Women (Cairo: Federal Union for Women, Women's Secretariat) 12pp(Arabic).
► European Federation Of Public Service Unions Public Services International.(2000) Exchanging Power, Changing Power: A Handbook For Gender Strategies In Trade Unions Based on EPSU Project “Decision Making Power to Women in Mediterranean Trade Unions”