Female Maquila Workers in Nicaragua - How can the State Enhance the Women’s Human Security?

Abstract: This thesis explores the insecurities of female maquila workers in Nicaragua in order to derive policy implications for the Nicaraguan state. These workers are deeply embedded in gendered and neoliberal structures of the global political economy. Based on theories of the social contract, the state is identified as being responsible for ensuring human security for its citizens. Using observations, text analysis and focus groups with female maquila workers, the female workers’ everyday insecurities are identified. The analysis is guided by the human security framework employing a gender perspective. The results are contrasted to feminist policy proposals by Barrientos and Kabeer (2004). Violence, economy and health have been identified as main insecurities of these workers. As a result it is argued that Barrientos and Kabeer’s (2004) proposals are too narrowly focused on the productive and reproductive role of women, but do not consider other issues that seriously constrain the workers’ security like violence and health.