Influences of education on gender and status: a study of Sri Lankan export processing zone workers. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hancock, Peter; Carastathis, Geoff; Georgiou, Jonathan; Adibi, Hossein
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender studies in developing societies. Volume 1:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 180
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: education -- formal employment -- export processing zones -- EPZs -- gender -- Sri Lanka -- women -- earning capacity -- educational levels -- verbal abuse -- sexual harassment -- public humiliation -- female empowerment; Women in development -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Sex role -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Women -- Developing countries -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Women -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Gender identity -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 305.4091724
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-0352

Abstract

Sri Lankan women employed by export processing zones (EPZs) represent various educational levels. Using a survey sample of 2, 304 randomly selected female EPZ workers, this paper quantitatively compared workers with ordinal-level secondary education - O-levels - and below (n = 1, 423) - and those with advanced-level secondary education - A-levels - and above (n = 878). Overall, the 'higher educated' women reported more positive socio-economic outcomes than their 'lower educated' counterparts. Mann-Whitney U tests demonstrated greater earning (saving) capacities among 'higher educated' women; with Pearson's chi-square test of contingencies revealing that this cohort were also more likely to receive promotions than 'lower educated' women. Although reports of abuse (harassment) were generally low among both sub-samples, 'lower educated' female EPZ workers were more likely to experience verbal abuse, sexual harassment and public humiliation. Despite such inter-group polarisation, a near consensus of all participants reported feeling greater empowerment as a result of their time in formal employment.