Showing papers on "Gender and development published in 2006"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the experiences of female professionals working in three case study countries in the Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman, while conducting management and cultural training for female managers.
Abstract: This study analyzes the experiences of female professionals working in three case study countries in the Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman. Data were gleaned while conducting management and cultural training for female managers. Results highlight the importance of women to economic development and the complexity of the interrelations between gender, organization, and Islamic values. The study reveals that women have advanced in management in the Middle East but have career and development constraints due to strong gender roles in Islamic culture. The study suggests strategies for HR and for gender and development to support international business. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
193 citations
TL;DR: The resilience of religion in developing countries is now plain to see as discussed by the authors, and the role of the religious dimension in Africa's development has been explored in the literature on development to consider ways in which religious ideas may be relevant to development thinking.
Abstract: The resilience of religion in developing countries is now plain to see. In Africa, religion shows no sign of disappearing or diminishing in public importance, as development theorists have generally supposed. The European Union has normally excluded consideration of the religious dimension in formulating development policies towards Africa. This article explores the possible role of religion in Africa's development. It looks at a number of specific fields that are widely debated in the literature on development to consider ways in which religious ideas may be relevant to development thinking. It concludes with some general considerations on how policymakers might be able to encompass religion as a factor in their strategic outlook. L'impact de la religion dans les pays en developpement est maintenant evident. En Afrique, la religion ne montre aucun signe de disparition ou de declin, comme les theoriciens du developpement l'ont generalement presume. L'Union europeenne a, en principe, exclu la prise en comp...
155 citations
Book•
09 Jun 2006
TL;DR: The Other Half of Gender as discussed by the authors is a book by the World Bank that brings the gender and development debate full circle -from a much-needed focus on empowering women to a more comprehensive gender framework that considers gender as a system that affects both women and men.
Abstract: The vulnerabilities of men have received limited attention in development research and programming. In Liberia, men's lack of access to employment and land and their loss of traditional power and authority lay at the heart of the violence and conflict that led to the near destruction of the country. It is thus important that men's concerns, in addition to women's, be bought into focus in the development literature and practice. This book by the World Bank makes an important contribution to this end. Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of Liberia The Other Half of Gender brings the gender and development debate full circle - from a much-needed focus on empowering women to a more comprehensive gender framework that considers gender as a system that affects both women and men. It draws on a slowly emerging realization that attaining the vision of gender equality will be difficult, if not impossible, without changing the ways in which masculinities are defined and acted upon.
138 citations
06 Mar 2006
TL;DR: In this article, Jaquette and Summerfield have brought together scholars, policymakers, and development workers to reflect on where the field of women and gender in development is today and where it is headed.
Abstract: Seeking to catalyze innovative thinking and practice within the field of women and gender in development, editors Jane S. Jaquette and Gale Summerfield have brought together scholars, policymakers, and development workers to reflect on where the field is today and where it is headed. The contributors draw from their experiences and research in Latin America, Asia, and Africa to illuminate the connections between women’s well-being and globalization, environmental conservation, land rights, access to information technology, employment, and poverty alleviation.
Highlighting key institutional issues, contributors analyze the two approaches that dominate the field: women in development (WID) and gender and development (GAD). They assess the results of gender mainstreaming, the difficulties that development agencies have translating gender rhetoric into equity in practice, and the conflicts between gender and the reassertion of indigenous cultural identities. Focusing on resource allocation, contributors explore the gendered effects of land privatization, the need to challenge cultural traditions that impede women’s ability to assert their legal rights, and women’s access to bureaucratic levers of power. Several essays consider women’s mobilizations, including a project to provide Internet access and communications strategies to African NGOs run by women. In the final essay, Irene Tinker, one of the field’s founders, reflects on the interactions between policy innovation and women’s organizing over the three decades since women became a focus of development work. Together the contributors bridge theory and practice to point toward productive new strategies for women and gender in development.
Contributors . Maruja Barrig, Sylvia Chant, Louise Fortmann, David Hirschmann, Jane S. Jaquette, Diana Lee-Smith, Audrey Lustgarten, Doe Mayer, Faranak Miraftab, Muadi Mukenge, Barbara Pillsbury, Amara Pongsapich, Elisabeth Prugl, Kirk R. Smith, Kathleen Staudt, Gale Summerfield, Irene Tinker, Catalina Hinchey Trujillo
63 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine why some self-help groups fail by using the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) experience in India and argue that whilst the "group" has inherent benefits, it must never be allowed to become the paradigm in developmental policies for women.
Abstract: The success of the group approach in rural micro-finance among women has inspired the tendency to look at all networking as essentially good and desirable in rural community development, without acknowledging the entrenched caste, class, ethnic and religious hierarchies that lead to diversities among women. Government schemes designed for poverty alleviation among rural women tend to be influenced by concepts and models that have been successful elsewhere, but do not take into account the diversities of situations at the local level. Internationally popular catchwords are used indiscriminately without questioning how these concepts can work effectively in the specific local context. This paper examines why some ‘self-help groups’ fail by using the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) experience in India. The empirical survey was done over a period of two years in Burdwan, a relatively rich agricultural tract located in eastern India. We argue that whilst the ‘group’ has inherent benefits, it must never be allowed to become the paradigm in developmental policies for women.
62 citations
TL;DR: This paper explored various aspects of race in GAD, including the charge of cultural imperialism, false simplicity in the labelling of women, and the failure of core GAD frameworks to recognize black feminist thought, so critically limiting their analytical power.
Abstract: While gender is highly visible in development theory and practice, race is rarely mentioned. This paper asks why this is, and how far Gender and Development (GAD) itself is implicated in the lack of recognition of race. The paper begins by acknowledging the complexity of the question: that race, gender and development are all contested terms and represent continuing sites of struggle. It then explores various aspects of ‘race in GAD’. These include: the charge of cultural imperialism; the false simplicity in the labelling of ‘women’, which masks the very different terms on which ‘third’and ‘first’world women were ‘brought into’development; and the failure of core GAD frameworks to recognize black feminist thought, so critically limiting their analytical power. The paper then goes on to discuss the racial marking of expertise in development and the ambivalent ways in which value is assigned through this. The paper concludes by reflecting on the interplay of identities in development planning and what this ...
49 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Involving men by contrast can generate a broader consensus on issues which have previously been marginalised as being of interest to women only - sexual and reproductive health for example.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a 15-year experience working on issues of gender and development in the Andes and including information from participant observation and discussions with development workers, is presented, concluding that the neo-liberal agenda benefits from community kitchens because it allows the state to abdicate its responsibility to the poor.
Abstract: Community kitchens in the Andean countries of Peru and Bolivia are complex spaces with the potential to empower and subjugate women. This article is based on 15 years experience working on issues of gender and development in the Andes and includes information from participant observation and discussions with development workers. It concludes that the neo-liberal agenda benefits from community kitchens because it allows the state to abdicate its responsibility to the poor.
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored conflicts and challenges, looking at how religious and indigenous customary values converge as powerful influences, affecting all areas of women's lives, and highlighted opportunities that can stem from religion, pointing to the ways in which Nigerian faith-based women's organisations are beginning to use religion as a basis for challenging male bias and promoting holistic development.
Abstract: Religion is a dominant force in private and public life in most developing countries. Based on fieldwork in Nigeria, where Christianity and Islam are the two major religions, this article looks at ways in which religion interplays with development and gender equality, and what this means for development policy and practice. First, it explores conflicts and challenges, looking at how religious and indigenous customary values converge as powerful influences, affecting all areas of women's lives. The article goes on to examine the impact of these influences on individual women's choices and aspirations in the context of Nigerian development policy on gender equality. Against this backdrop, it highlights opportunities that can stem from religion, pointing to the ways in which Nigerian faith-based women's organisations are beginning to use religion as a basis for challenging male bias and promoting holistic development.
30 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the shift in gender planning from Women in Development (WID) to Gender and Development (GAD) is discussed, and why WID programs continue to dominate despite a general consensus that the GAD approach is superior.
Abstract: This article addresses the shift in gender planning from Women in Development (WID) to Gender and Development (GAD), and explores why WID programs continue to dominate despite a general consensus that the GAD approach is superior. Drawing on the experience of organized women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it is argued that not only are WID programs politically and practically easier to implement, but they may actually address the priorities of poor women, who, when given the space and support to undertake their own assessments of their interests, can then start to transform gendered power relations in their families and communities. It concludes that the distinction between WID and GAD is far from clear, as gender interests, like women themselves, are constantly changing and adapting in response to new opportunities, information, and environments. While a GAD approach to gender planning is superior, it is heartening to see that WID inspired interventions can sometimes lead to more empowering outcome...
TL;DR: Marcella Corsi and her co-workers analyze the social and economic impact that microfinance programmes have on participant's lives, particularly on women in the Mediterranean countries, and investigates whether the microcredit programme did indeed bring about women empowerment.
Abstract: Marcella Corsi and her co-workers analyze the social and economic impact that microfinance programmes have on participant's lives, particularly on women in the Mediterranean countries. They identify the changes of the women who took part in the microcredit programme. They examine the consumption levels, savings, housing conditions and investigate using an index of the changes whether the microcredit programme did indeed bring about women empowerment.
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: This paper explored definitions of masculinity and male identities in a variety of social contexts, drawing from experiences in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, and drew on a slowly emerging realization that attaining the vision of gender equality will be difficult, if not impossible, without changing the ways in which masculinities are defined and acted upon.
Abstract: This book is an attempt to bring the gender and development debate full circle-from a much-needed focus on empowering women to a more comprehensive gender framework that considers gender as a system that affects both women and men. The chapters in this book explore definitions of masculinity and male identities in a variety of social contexts, drawing from experiences in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. It draws on a slowly emerging realization that attaining the vision of gender equality will be difficult, if not impossible, without changing the ways in which masculinities are defined and acted upon. Although changing male gender norms will be a difficult and slow process, we must begin by understanding how versions of masculinities are defined and acted upon.
TL;DR: Myrna Cunningham reflects on two experiences that motivated her to seek out Indigenous women who identify as feminists, who understand both the importance of feminism and the transformations that are needed within the international women's movement.
Abstract: Myrna Cunningham reflects on two experiences that motivated her to seek out Indigenous women who identify as feminists, who understand both the importance of feminism and the transformations that are needed within the international women's movement in order for feminism to live up to its potential as a political practice.
TL;DR: The framework described has been designed to help enable CIDA to achieve development results for gender equality and it is hoped it will be of use to partners seeking to make change happen within their own institutions.
Abstract: There is much debate within the international development community on the effectiveness of mainstreaming as a strategy for promoting gender equality. Although much has been learned about what is required for mainstreaming to be effective, our understanding of how to achieve it, explain it and measure it is still evolving. Gender mainstreaming, therefore, remains an unfinished project. The framework described has been designed to help enable CIDA to achieve development results for gender equality. The use of this framework allows us to measure to what extent current mainstreaming efforts at CIDA are leading to real results on gender equality. We hope it will be of use to partners seeking to make change happen within their own institutions. The full text of the framework is available at: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/equality.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the way the knowledge of experts on the field of gender and development reflects upon political projects which contribute to the shaping of a specific way of experiencing the body, inscribing physical punishment into a new universe of meanings, many of them considerably different from those in force at the countryside.
Abstract: East Timor is now faced to a strong social and political change, which implies, on gender issues, the building of a new morality about domestic physical aggression. Based on the local translation of gender equality principles ? seen as universal values ? a set of actions against domestic violence is questioning local practices and attitudes regarding representations of body, gender and sexuality, such as polygamy, the obligations to childbirth and the responsibilities on contraception. Based on one year fieldwork in the country, this paper discusses the way the knowledge of experts on the field of gender and development reflects upon political projects which contribute to the shaping of a specific way of experiencing the body, inscribing physical punishment into a new universe of meanings, many of them considerably different from those in force at the countryside. Conflicts and syntheses emerged from this process show the importance of being aware of the relationship of the building of local identities faced to broader political and symbolic disputes as well as the limits of the binding of local practices and values thought as universal ones.
TL;DR: Aruna Rao looks at how change is happening through the daily grind of gender equality activists and argues that in order to achieve basic development objectives the authors need both better delivery and better accountability for a range services to women.
Abstract: Aruna Rao looks at how change is happening through the daily grind of gender equality activists. She argues that in order to achieve basic development objectives we need both better delivery and better accountability for a range services to women – not just education and health, but also agricultural extension, land registration and property protection, regulation of labour markets, and safety. She also argues that institutional insiders and outsiders need to support each others’ different but complementary roles as change agents.
TL;DR: In this paper, the importance of spatial mobility to the creation of profitable livelihood strategies for women in Porto Novo, Benin is examined, and the authors argue that focusing on women's access to spatial mobility will not only increase the profitability of their livelihood strategies, but also create spaces in which issues of autonomy and independence can also be addressed.
Abstract: This paper examines the importance of spatial mobility to the creation of profitable livelihood strategies for women in Porto Novo, Benin. Drawing on 522 surveys and 15 life-history interviews conducted with women who use a wide array of strategies, this paper demonstrates that under some circumstances mobility may be as important to increasing women's income-generating opportunities as access to capital. Moreover, I argue that focusing on women's access to spatial mobility will not only increase the profitability of their livelihood strategies, but may also create spaces in which issues of autonomy and independence can also be addressed. In so doing, this research contributes to work on gender and development by demonstrating the importance of considering the spatial aspects of social and economic processes.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that many disparities in development outcomes stem from gender differences and that many practitioners are not convinced of the importance of gender issues or they may find it difficult to navigate approaches in the context of development.
Abstract: Practitioners may ask why they should address gender issues in development. Aside from the obvious answer-that gender equality is a basic human right and in that sense is integral to development-many disparities in development outcomes stem from gender differences. While practitioners are often knowledgeable about general development or technical issues many lack the understanding and resources necessary to effectively integrate gender issues into specific projects and public policy. Further many practitioners are not convinced of the importance of gender issues or they may find it difficult to navigate approaches in the context of development. (excerpt)
Journal Article•
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a critical reading of the National Adaptation Programmes of Action, an instrument for vulnerability and adaptation needs assessment of the Least Developed Countries, is argued that gender issues, and especially women's position, must be more explicitly illuminated and put in the context of power asymmetries and the feminization processes of poverty and survival.
Abstract: Global changes in weather patterns and environmental processes are bringing the climate change discourse from the abstract to the concrete. Through the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention, the global community has highlighted three key areas of urgent action. These are vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. This thesis focuses on the area of adaptation, framing it within the contexts of gender and justice. The analysis is drawing on sources mainly from critical ecofeminism together with gender and development to consider the impact and aspects of processes, power and place within the climate change discourse. Through a critical reading of the National Adaptation Programmes of Action, an instrument for vulnerability and adaptation needs assessment of the Least Developed Countries, it is argued that gender issues, and especially women's position, must be more explicitly illuminated and put in the context of power asymmetries and the feminization processes of poverty and survival. In this course of action, notions of the relationship between women and the environment must be critically and carefully applied.
TL;DR: It is critical to involve local women's movement, international health NGOs in policy and action on NRTs from a southern social and gender justice perspective, Liliana Acero argues.
Abstract: Liliana Acero focuses on the proliferation of new reproductive technologies (NRTs) in Latin America, pointing out that little objective research has been carried out on their impact. Acero illustrates the specific way new reproductive technologies are impacting upon women's bodies, tissues, reproductive capacities and rights. She argues that it is critical to involve local women's movement, international health NGOs in policy and action on NRTs from a southern social and gender justice perspective.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, a simple theory of gender-biased parental investment suggests that gender inequality may actually be non-monotonically related to access to health investments in the developing world.
Abstract: Policymakers often argue that increasing access to health care is one crucial avenue for decreasing gender inequality in the developing world. Although this is generally true in the cross section, time series evidence does not always point to the same conclusion. This paper analyzes the relationship between access to child health investments and gender inequality in those health investments in India. A simple theory of gender-biased parental investment suggests that gender inequality may actually be non-monotonically related to access to health investments. At low levels of availability, investment in girls and boys is low but equal; as availability increases, boys get investments first, creating inequality. As availability increases further, girls also receive investments and equality is restored. I test this theory using data on the relationship between gender balance in vaccinations and the availability of Health Camps in India. I find support for a non-monotonic relationship. This result may shed light on the contrast between the cross-sectional and time-series evidence on gender and development, and may provide guidance for health policy in developing countries.
TL;DR: In this article, a contemporary overview of gender and development concerns in India is provided, where the authors examine the trends in women's employment, wages, literacy and school enrollment, followed by an analysis of women's health and participation in political decision making process.
Abstract: This article attempts to provide a contemporary overview of gender and development concerns in India. It throws light on the various aspects of gender related issues by examining the trends in women's employment, wages, literacy and school enrollment. This is followed by an analysis of the trends in women's health and participation in political decision making process. In India, the challenges faced by women in dealing with issues relating to their deprivation, are manifold. Although the process of women's empowerment has been successful to a certain extent, gender-related socioeconomic biases are still existing. These can addressed by properly identifying the areas of concern and implementing suitable policies, which this article attempts to focus on.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple theory of gender-biased parental investment suggests that gender inequality may actually be non-monotonically related to access to health investments in India, and they test this theory using data on the relationship between gender balance in vaccinations and the availability of health camps.
Abstract: Policymakers often argue that increasing access to health care is one crucial avenue for decreasing gender inequality in the developing world. Although this is generally true in the cross section, time series evidence does not always point to the same conclusion. This paper analyzes the relationship between access to child health investments and gender inequality in those health investments in India. A simple theory of gender-biased parental investment suggests that gender inequality may actually be non-monotonically related to access to health investments. At low levels of availability, investment in girls and boys is low but equal; as availability increases, boys get investments first, creating inequality. As availability increases further, girls also receive investments and equality is restored. I test this theory using data on the relationship between gender balance in vaccinations and the availability of "Health Camps" in India. I find support for a non-monotonic relationship. This result may shed light on the contrast between the cross-sectional and time-series evidence on gender and development, and may provide guidance for health policy in developing countries.
Book•
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine how men as beneficiaries are included in the GAD approach in development cooperation at the levels of discourse and practice in Uganda and provide a case for learning, and initiating discussion and advocacy on more male sensitive approach to gender and development.
Abstract: This multi-disciplinary study was conducted as part of two Master’s Degrees: in Arts and in Social Sciences. The aim of the study is to examine how men as beneficiaries are included in the gender and development (GAD) approach in development cooperation at the levels of discourse and practice in Uganda. The study aims at providing a case for learning, and initiating discussion and advocacy on more male sensitive approach to gender and development. The primary data consists of ten semi-structured thematic interviews of the staff members of the organization World Vision Uganda on their perceptions and experiences on gender and development in Uganda. The secondary data consists of discussions with community members and organization staff as well as documents and literature. The analysis is divided into two: critical discourse analysis and transitivity analysis of the discourse of GAD, and social scientific analysis of the practice of GAD, both of which are qualitative in this study. It can be concluded that GAD in Uganda is highly consistent with the overall tendency of the GAD approach as more preoccupied with women leaving male beneficiaries in the margin. Moreover, the manner of inclusion is not consistent with gender mainstreaming principle but derives from arguments based on needs rather than rights. However, there is openness to men’s inclusion through the concept of gender partnership at both the discursive and practical levels in Uganda. Recommendations include acknowledging and encouraging men’s role at policy level, moving away from bipolar conflict premise in gender work, learning from contextual responses to men’s inclusion, engaging discourses in sharing experiences via discussion forums, and taking a holistic approach aiming at increasing the welfare of the household as the scene for gender equality work.
TL;DR: For women with disabilities, especially in developing countries, these new advances are critical not only to their future quality of life, but also their identity and very survival.
Abstract: Asha Hans explores the impact of new technologies on women with disabilities, with a focus on women from developing countries. For women with disabilities, especially in developing countries, these new advances are critical not only to their future quality of life, but also their identity and very survival.