Highlights the impact of the economic crisis of the 1980s on women and notes how the participation of Caribbean economies in the international division of labour assigns large numbers of female workers to low wage, unskilled jobs. Argues that culture, class, ethnicity and ideology play important roles in shaping the attitudes of males to female participation in the national institutions of Caribbean countries, attitudes that do not differ much across the range of political systems and spectrums in the region. Feels the state must play an important role to advance the interests of women, and insists that it is in the interest of the private sector to improve the condition of female workers in order to raise productivity and achieve export competitiveness.

3/7/00 M2LMGR