The psychocultural position of Third World women employed in the assembly plants of multinational enterprises is examined on the basis of well-documented accounts of their working conditions. In particular, it is argued that the impact of working conditions on stress related psychological symptoms can only be understood in the light of socio-historical and cultural analyses. An example of such an analysis, developed along lines sketched by Theodor Adorno and illustrated by a narrative from a young Mexican factory worker, demonstrates the possibility for a critical psychology that transcends the typical interests of cross-cultural research and is more relevant to pressing global problems. Strategies for intervention are briefly discussed.
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Tod S. Sloan is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
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Sherrie Brownstein Schroder is associated with the Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
