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In this chapter, I discuss intersectionality in relation to complexity theory as an approach to social systems, inspired by Sylvia Walby's ground-breaking work where she brings together these two theoretical perspectives (2007, 2009, p. 250). In order to apply her synthesis to my study of migrant nurses to Norway, I examine the methodological potential of Bourdieu-inspired feminist concept of capitals (Adkins & Skeggs, 2004) in grasping the connections between individual agency and intersecting systems of inequality.

Purpose – The purpose of the chapter is to investigate the implications of including multiple inequalities in addition to class for analyses of the implications of globalization for inequality.

Methodology/approach – The chapter addresses both conceptual and methodological issues in the analysis of changes in economic inequalities. It draws on comparative data of changes in class and gender economic inequalities using data from the World Bank, OECD, and Eurostat.

Findings – The chapter finds that gender and class inequalities have different trajectories of change, although they have implications for each other. This means that the analysis of globalization needs to analyze gender separately from class as well as their points of intersection in order to gain an accurate understanding of the changes in inequality that are linked to globalization. It is found that the complexity theory is very useful as an aid to theorizing intersectionality. It is found that the use of the distinction between neoliberal and social democratic forms of modernity aids the analysis.

Originality/value of chapter – The chapter provides an innovative analysis of the implications of including gender in analyses of global economic inequality, which has implications for the theorization of gender and intersectionality as well as of globalization.

In this work, we review the interrelationship between gender, knowledge, socially imbued roles, work relations, and the impacts on society. We consider the data regarding education aptitudes for males and females in reading, math, and science and move to an analysis of wage rates and status. Our findings concur with other research. Spanning countries, economic systems, political environments, and cultures, there is a consistent and pervasive gender gap in wage rates and status. In seeking to understand such disparities, we review research on the creation of expectations and the formation of gender as a social construct. Despite various strategies and policies to overcome gender inequities at the national and supranational levels (e.g., EU and UN), gender gaps persist in education, politics, employment rates, representation on boards, and in childcare. While the knowledge-based society is perceived as a new production paradigm, using innovative and improved forms of knowledge, gender disparities remain. Questioning issues of hierarchy and inequality are fundamental to the discussion of deepening gender-accounting research. Although we look at the market place in this paper and financial well being is fundamental, it is not sufficient. Gender gaps persist due to deeply embedded cultural biases in institutions and people and the many obstacles and barriers – cultural, political, economic, social – require significant transformation in how we view the world. Reflecting on the observation that social change takes place in a myriad of ways, we seek new ways to shape deliberations, perceptions, and behavior. These are the possibilities for change we encourage.

Highlights the fact that women’s employment is increasing in most Western countries, although the patterns are still very varied especially in relation to: the proportion who work full‐ or part‐time; the size of the wages gap between women and men; and the extent of the infrastructural support, such as publicly‐provided child care, that facilitates the reconciliation of working and home life. Notes that these are linked to the different patterns of gender relations in the wider society: both different degrees of inequality and different forms of patriarchy. Uses comparative analysis to investigate these differences and focuses on the methodological dilemmas in carrying out such cross‐national research.