Health, Women's Work, and Industrialization - Center for Gender in ...

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childbirth problems. The majority of problems regarding chemicals arose
with workers using TeE. Of those using chemicals and reporting menstruation
problems, laser exposure appeared to be important next to TeE usage.
Overall, the numbers are too small to make definitive statements. It does
appear, however, that reproductive outcome and exposure to TeE warrant
closer attention.
Through the various analyses discussed above, a tentative conclusion can
be drawn that the technical mean of production presents a variety of health
hazards. However, given that the interviewees gave considerable emphasis to
the problems they face in the organization of the production process, it is
appropri ate to consi der the effects of shiftwork, producti on quotas, and
other aspects of the social organization of production.
Shiftwork has been found to be related to a host of health complaints in
the literature (e.g., Tasto et al. 1978; Angersbach et al. 1980). In this
study, shiftwork appears to be related to sleeping problems (difficulties
falling asleep and waking up without cause), as seen in Table 24.
Gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, gastric pain), central nervous system
complaints (weakness, dizziness, frequent headaches), and psychological
complaints (boredom, loss of appetite, upset stomach, headaches, insomnia)
are also related to shiftwork, but the relationships are not statistically
significant.
It should be noted that, since most clerical workers do not have
shiftwork, the differences di scussed between shiftworkers and nonshi
ftworkers refl ect, in part, di fferences in job categories (and
exposures). At the same time, however, it should be noted that no
difference in sleeping and gastrointestinal problems was observed when
analyzed by technical mean of production. Examination of shiftwork status,
especially in Singapore, suggests that the fact of rotation is more
important than the hours of work in generating health complaints.
Health complaints are also analyzed by (1) whether the workers had to
meet producti on quotas and (2) the frequency with which the workers had
troubl e meeti ng the producti on quota. In Mal aysi a, workers with producti on
quotas reported sl ightly more muscul oskel etal and sl eeping probl ems. No
differences were found among Singaporean respondents. On the other hand, in
both Si ngapore and Mal aysi a, workers who frequently have troubl e meeti ng
targets had more musculoskeletal, respiratory, and psychological complaints
than those who seldom have trouble meeting targets. In Singapore, workers
who have frequent trouble also reported more sleeping and eNS problems.
These results indicate that there is a strong subjective element influencing
workers' health. The structure of the production quota system may not be so
important as workers' ability to meet targets or the perceived consequences
(social and economic) of their not meeting targets.
The symptomatic complaints were further analyzed by other aspects of the
social organization of work -- pace of work, speed of work, time pressure,
closeness of supervision, relations with other workers and supervisors.