...Musvosvi, E (Ms) Course: Gender and Development (HSO 306) Question: Briefly discuss the following theories and show the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to Gender Development; WID, WAD and GAD. Gender relates to the social constructions and relations between men and women and it does not simply look at maleness or femaleness. Development is a multidimensional concept but in general it entails social upward mobility and empowerment but not limited to this. In studying gender relations and development it is of great importance to look at the approaches adopted by feminists in redressing and addressing social disparities. There are many approaches but shall give considerable to WID, WAD and GAD and give their contributions to development as well as their strengths and weaknesses. One of the most famous approaches to development was the feminist Women in development (WID). This was adopted in the 1970s in response to women movement in the west. The women in the west advocated for inclusion of women who have been excluded from development policies and programs. Baserup (1979) point out that the primary goal of WID was to include women into existing initiatives cited in Schech and Haggis (2000). Women were marginalized and excluded from the benefits of development. In so doing, the WID approach pointed out that the major problem to women’s unequal representation and participation is the male biased and patriarch cal development policies (Beneria and Sen 1982:161...
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...Theories of Development-Empowerment a)WID,b)WAD,c)GAD Ever since the formation of the United Nations Commission on the Status for Women in 1946, it had been proposing a U. N. Women’s Conference with little success. Gradually with pressure from the American Women‟s Movement, the U.N. General Assembly declared 1975 as the International Women’s Year and 1975-1985 as the International Decade for Women. This declaration led to a growing awareness of women‟s issues and an acceptance of their demands as legitimate issues for policy making, both at the national and international level. The major themes of the International Women’s Year and Conference were-- Equality, Development and Peace. Equality, however, had been a dominant issue for the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and it came primarily from the feminist movement of the Western industrialized nations. Peace was increasingly considered to be a women issue by the countries of the Eastern block. Development, on the other hand, was a recent issue put forward mainly by the newly independent “Third World” nations as a key to improving women’s lives. During the Decade, the important but previously invisible role of women in the social and economic development of the poorer countries was highlighted. The declaration of the International Decade for Women (1975-85) signified the new visibility of Women in Development (WID) in international forums. During the past few years, the term "women in development" has become...
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...THE WID, WAD, GAD APPROACH ON GENDER DEVELOPMENT March 19, 2013 · by cn2collins · Bookmark the permalink. · Over the years development programs have been criticized for ignoring gender roles and the impact it has on women in the global south. However we see a shift to integrate women into development programs in hopes of eradicating poverty and low social economical status. The six main theoretical approaches are: “(1) the welfare approach; (2) women in development (WID); (3) women and development (WAD); (4) gender and development (GAD); (5) the effectiveness approach (EA); and (6) mainstream gender equality (MGE). Martinez tries to understand the various outcomes and effectiveness of all 6 development theories. Despite the effort to reinforce gender mainstreaming into society we still see a vast number of gender inequality especially in the developing world. Women make up the 70% of individuals living in poverty and in sub-Saharan Africa 57% of HIV infected individuals are women. This also includes the disproportionate ratio of women to men in the job market and at leadership position, low level of education among women, and low socio-economic status among women. The term “Women, Gender and Development” could be seen a discipline much like ever other area of knowledge. However, what sets it apart from various disciplines is that, its major contributors are individuals that raise issues and concerns, concerning women, gender and development. These are academics, feminist...
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...Gender and Development Theories, Wid, Wad and Gad, Their Strengths and Weaknesse In: Other Topics Gender and Development Theories, Wid, Wad and Gad, Their Strengths and Weaknesse INVESTING IN AFRICA’S FUTURE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Name: Chupical Shollah Manuel Reg Number: R 086305 HU Lecturer: Musvosvi, E (Ms) Course: Gender and Development (HSO 306) Question: Briefly discuss the following theories and show the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to Gender Development; WID, WAD and GAD. Gender relates to the social constructions and relations between men and women and it does not simply look at maleness or femaleness. Development is a multidimensional concept but in general it entails social upward mobility and empowerment but not limited to this. In studying gender relations and development it is of great importance to look at the approaches adopted by feminists in redressing and addressing social disparities. There are many approaches but shall give considerable to WID, WAD and GAD and give their contributions to development as well as their strengths and weaknesses. One of the most famous approaches to development was the feminist Women in development (WID). This was adopted in the 1970s in response to women movement in the west. The women in the west advocated for inclusion of women who have been excluded from development policies and programs. Baserup (1979) point out that the...
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...Gender is defined by FAO as ‘the relations between men and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not determined biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a central organizing principle of societies, and often governs the processes of production and reproduction, consumption and distribution’ (FAO, 1997). Development is a process of structural societal change. Thomas (2000, 2004) refers to this meaning of development as a process of historical change. The essay shall look at Women in Development, Women And Development and Gender And Development and give their contributions to development as well as their strengths and limitations. The term "women in development" came into use in the early 1970s, after the publication of Ester Boserup's Women's Role in Economic Development (1970). Boserup was the first to systematically delineate on a global level the sexual division of labour that existed in agrarian economies. The Women in Development concept is based on a recognition of the importance of the roles and status of women in development process. It is meant to give special attention to the women's role, while extending development assistance. For the effective and efficient implementation of assistance, it is essential to ensure that the women should have the opportunities to participate positively as important players in development process. Such enlargement of opportunities will also pave the way for...
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...Women in Development (WID) Theoretical Approach The term “women and development” was originally coined by a Washington-based network of female development professionals in the early 1970s[3] who sought to put in question the trickle down theories of development by contesting that modernization had identical impact on men and women.[4] The Women in Development movement (WID) gained momentum in the 1970s, driven by the resurgence of women's movement in northern countries, whereby liberal feminists were striving for equal rights and labour opportunities in the United States.[5] Liberal feminism, postulating that women's disadvantages in society may be eliminated by breaking down stereotyped customary expectations of women by offering better education to women and introducing equal opportunity programmes,[6] had a notable influence on the formulation of the WID approaches, whereby little attention was given to men and to power relations between genders.[5] The translation of the 1970s feminist movements and their repeated calls for employment opportunities in the development agenda meant that particular attention was given to the productive labour of women, leaving aside reproductive concerns and social welfare.[5]Yet this focus was part of the approach pushed forward by advocates of the WID movement, reacting to the general policy environment maintained by early colonial authorities and post-war development authorities, wherein inadequate reference to the work undertook by women...
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... Topic: Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these 3 approaches to development: a) WID (Women In Development) b) WAD (Women and Development) c) GAD (Gender and Development) Objectives By the end of this presentation students should be able to: a. Define the 3 approaches WID, WAD, and GAD b. Understand the weakness and strengths of the approaches. c. Highlight one relevant approach to the Zimbabwean situation. Introduction There are three main approaches to the development of women namely WID, WAD and GAD. The struggle for women to get recognition in society was evident before the colonial era in Zimbabwe. After the attainment of Independence in 1980, the Zimbabwean Government made a commitment to redress the situation of women. This presentation will first present the definition of terms, details of the approaches to development of women. Thereafter, the discussion will go on to explore strengths and weaknesses of women in development. This presentation will conclude by highlighting the relevance of the GAD approach to the Zimbabwean situation. Definition of terms: Development – is a systematic use of scientific knowledge to meet specific objectives or requirements (Business Dictionary.com). Gender – is a cultural definition of behaviour defined as appropriate to sexes in a given society at a given time (Moser: 1993). WID (Women in Development) is understood to mean the integration of women into global processes of...
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...V March 1989 WID, WAD, GAD: TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE Eva M. Rathgeber* International Development Research Centre Ottawa * The views expressed here are those of the author and This paper was do not necessarily reflect those of IDRC. originally presented at the meetings of the Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Women held in Quebec City, November 1988. 2 During the past few years, the term "women in development" has become common currency both inside and outside academic settings. But while "women in development" or "WID", is understood integration of women into global processes the of to mean economic, political and social growth and change, there often is confusion about the meaning of two more recent acronyms, This paper will begin with assumptions embedded look at the in an "WID," "WAD" and "dAD". examination of meanings and "WAD" and "GAD" and then will extent to which differing views of the relationship between gender and development have influenced research, policymaking and international agency thinking since the mid1960s. it is suggested that each term has been associated with a varying set of assumptions and has led to the formulation of different strategies for the participation of women in development strategies. ORIGINS 1. women in Development The term "women in development" came into use in the early 1970s, after the publication of Ester Boserup's Economic Development (1970). Boserup was Women's Role in...
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...Women in development (WID)[edit] Theoretical approach The term “women and development” was originally coined by a Washington-based network of female development professionals in the early 1970s[3] who sought to put in question the trickle down theories of development by contesting that modernization had identical impact on men and women.[4] The Women in Development movement (WID) gained momentum in the 1970s, driven by the resurgence of women's movement in northern countries, whereby liberal feminists were striving for equal rights and labour opportunities in the United States.[5] Liberal feminism, postulating that women's disadvantages in society may be eliminated by breaking down stereotyped customary expectations of women by offering better education to women and introducing equal opportunity programmes,[6] had a notable influence on the formulation of the WID approaches, whereby little attention was given to men and to power relations between genders.[5] The translation of the 1970s feminist movements and their repeated calls for employment opportunities in the development agenda meant that particular attention was given to the productive labour of women, leaving aside reproductive concerns and social welfare.[5] Yet this focus was part of the approach pushed forward by advocates of the WID movement, reacting to the general policy environment maintained by early colonial authorities and post-war development authorities, wherein inadequate reference to the work undertook by...
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...V March 1989 WID, WAD, GAD: TRENDS IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE Eva M. Rathgeber* International Development Research Centre Ottawa * The views expressed here are those of the author and This paper was do not necessarily reflect those of IDRC. originally presented at the meetings of the Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Women held in Quebec City, November 1988. 2 During the past few years, the term "women in development" has become common currency both inside and outside academic settings. But while "women in development" or "WID", is understood to mean the integration of women into global processes of economic, political and social growth and change, there often is confusion about the meaning of two more recent acronyms, "WAD" and "dAD". This paper will begin with in an examination of meanings and "WAD" and "GAD" and assumptions embedded look at the "WID," then will extent to which differing views of the relationship between gender and development have influenced research, policymaking and international agency thinking since the mid1960s. it is suggested that each term has been associated with a varying set of assumptions and has led to the formulation of different strategies for the development strategies. participation of women in ORIGINS 1. women in Development The term "women in development" came into use in the early Women's Role in 1970s, after the publication of Ester Boserup's Economic Development (1970). Boserup was the...
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...strengths and weaknesses of the Gender And Development (GAD) approach for oppressed communities in the Caribbean? Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance within ones country. With a mouthful said, I can now turn my attention to the matter at hand. One could ask what is gender and development? The fact is, there is no true meaning for this, however theorist have pieced together that, the Gender and Development (GAD) approach is a way of determining how best to structure development projects and programs based on analysis of gender relationships, in other words it focuses on the socially constructed basis of difference between men and women, economic, political and cultural forces that determine how men and women participate in, benefit from, and control project resources and activities differently and it also places a great emphasis on the need to challenge existing gender roles and relations. This approach shifts the focus from women as a group to the socially determined relations between women and men. With the birth of this approach it is constantly being compared with the WID, they both have perspectives that are theoretically distinct; although in practice it is less clear, with a program possibly involving elements of both. It was developed in the 1980s as an alternative to the Women in Development (WID) approach that was in common use...
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...Conceptualising the WAD Approach According to Rathgeber (1990), the WAD approach emerged as a neo-Marxist feminist approach and sought to address the limitations of modernization theory within Women In Development, (WID) approach. The WAD approach emphasizes the idea that the rise of globalisation with its inequitable gender relations and prioritisation of global capitalism was inimical to women and men in the developing countries. Another argument of the WAD approach is that, it accepts women as important economic actors in their societies and argues that women have always been part of the development process, therefore integrating women in development is a myth. A further WAD argument is that the structure of capitalism keeps women at home in the domestic arena and that the capitalist class system is the determining factor in the male abuse of women. Connell et al (1999) explain that, one of the tenets of the WAD approach is that although women have always been involved in developmental activities, their contributions have been overlooked and marginalized in national and donor development plans. The WAD approach argues that women are deeply integrated in the Capitalist structures, and no amount of superficial manipulation will solve their problems. What is required for women to advance is the removal of the inequitable structures and relationships. The needed reforms are both international and domestic, and must be at the political and institutional level as well as the economic...
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...FROM WID TO GAD: CONCEPTUAL SHIFTS IN THE WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE Abstract The Fourth World Conference on Women, to be held in Beijing in September 1995, provides an opportunity for the world community to focus attention on areas of critical concern for women worldwide concerns that stem from social problems embracing both men and women, and that require solutions affecting both genders. One of the main objectives of the Conference is to adopt a platform for action, concentrating on some of the key areas identified as obstacles to the advancement of women. UNRISDs work in preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women focuses on two of the themes highlighted by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women: 2 inequality in women’s access to and participation in the definition of economic structures and policies and the productive process itself; and 2 insufficient institutional mechanisms to promote the advancement of women. The Institutes Occasional Paper series for Beijing reflects work carried out under the UNRISD/UNDP project, Technical Co-operation and Women’s Lives: Integrating Gender into Development Policy. The activities of the project include an assessment of efforts by a selected number of donor agencies and governments to integrate gender issues into their activities; the action-oriented part of the project involves pilot studies in Bangladesh, Jamaica, Morocco, Uganda and Viet Nam, the goal of which is to initiate a policy dialogue between...
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...ATHROPOLOGY OF GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT [HANTH 107] INTRODUCTION Defining Key Concepts Gender is not about women as most people think. Gender is about both men and women. Gender is a set of characteristics distinguishing between male and female, and is a result socio – cultural construction, it describes the characteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine. Thus the term gender has social, cultural and attitudinal connotations. Gender is a set of characteristics distinguishing between male and female, and is a result socio – cultural construction, it describes the characteristics that a society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine. Thus the term gender has social, cultural and attitudinal connotations. Sex on the other hand refers to the biological differences in chromosomes, hormonal profiles as well as internal and external sexual organs or genitalia.The term sex since classical times has been used to designate matters related to biological and anatomical makeup of a person. Thus while ones’ sex as male or female is a biological and universal fact that is however not the same with gender since sex is tends to be similar across all cultures while gender varies one society to another. Sex relates to the biological characteristics that categorise someone as either female or male; whereas gender refers to the socially determined ideas and practices of what it is to be female or male. Patriarchy - Systemic societal structures that institutionalise...
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...CHAPTER TWO THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF WOMEN DEVELOPMENT 2.1. Introduction The previous chapter (Chapter 1) gave the problem and background of this research. Chapter two will begin by reviewing available literature on studies done on the topic. This chapter will provide a substantially better insight into the dimensions and complexity of the problem and how others have contributed to the topic. A variety of sources will be used to review literature, including research reports, dissertations, government publications and theses; accessed through journals, textbooks and internet. The chapter will end by giving an overview of approaches that paves the way for a clearer understanding of the research problem and identifies the knowledge gap this study seeks to fill. Women in Development (WID), Women and Development (WAD) and Gender and Development (GAD) approach will be discussed in relation to women access to land in Zimbabwe. 2.2. Customary law and land question For many people, customary law is the most important law in their lives, controlling areas of their lives like their marriages, their property, and their right to inherit. Due to customary law in Zimbabwe like in many other African countries with patriarchal systems, women can only access land through marriage or other male relatives. According to Ghosh (2010) customary law refers to African traditions which have become an intrinsic part of the accepted and expected conduct in Zimbabwean black communities. This law defines...
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