By Irene Tinker and Elaine Zuckerman
Chapter in: Currie-Alder, B.; Kanbur, D. Malone and R. Mehdora (eds). International Development Ideas, Experience and Prospects. London: Oxford University Press. 2014
“The social construction of gender reflected in development theory was increasingly challenged by women in both developed and developing countries. Scholars documented the work that women did and concluded that many development programs were having an adverse impact on women. As the women’s movement grew, women demanded greater emphasis on their rights. Rapid socio-economic transitions altered family structure which called for greater attention to gender relationships. Gender sensitive programs and policies further changed development programs. Activists today are working to ensure that rhetoric is matched with expenditures and with greater political power and representation for women.
This chapter traces the evolution of the development paradigm in response to the recognition of women’s economic roles. It charts the shifts in thinking and in action, and relates them to developments in scholarly research, to activism in developing and developed countries, and to global fora which helped change the paradigm.”
