Gender & Development - An Idea for a curriculum

Posted : Tue, 2009-11-03 16:15
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This course aims to introduce students to the various approaches and assumptions that are implicit in the phrase Gender and Development. The everyday use of the term Development assumes that societies are on a linear path of continuous material improvement in terms of technology, economics, population growth, health, and education. Secondly, the phrase Gender and Development is usually understood to mean that women need to be brought on board the development project. Critics of the linear approach to development argue that social change linked to colonialism and migration in the third world have contributed to these societies’ economic and social underdevelopment. Similarly feminists have argued that development for women is more complex than a simple process of adding women to general development.

In this course gender is used as a central category of analysis and it is used to critically examine how gender hierarchies and stereotypes about gender and work are set in place through historical processes. The course also examines how the measures and processes of development are gendered as well as what policies and institutions have been set in place both nationally and internationally to advocate for gender justice. In the course, case studies from the ‘South’ will be used to illustrate the debates in this field with reference to selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The gendered processes will be examined within areas such as the meaning of women’s work in the economy; gendered labour practices, the sexual division of labour within the household; gender, development and the media, gender and development in the context of crisis and conflict; the gendered nature of the HIV/AIDS pandemic as well as the place of men in development discourse.

Core Concepts and Themes

  • Development
  • Gendering development theories
  • Gendered ideologies and of work and the sexual division of labour
  • Economies and globalisation
  • International and continental development institutions
  • Gender, media, and development
  • Gender, security and peace
  • Sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and gender
Gender and Development: Course Outline

Introducing the course and some insights on the meaning of ‘Development’

The introduction to the course gives the main topics and debates that the course will cover. It also introduces and maps the meaning of ‘development’ and how it has been used in Africa. There will be a brief discussion on what development means to the students.

Readings:

  • Rodney, Walter. 1974. “Some Questions on Development”, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Washington: Howard University Press.
  • Coetzee, Jan, K. 2001. “Modernisation Theory”, in Jan K. Coetzee et.al. Development: Theory, Policy and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Sample of ‘development indicators’ from World Bank website
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Linking ideas about ‘gender’ to notions of ‘development’?

Here ways of linking ‘gender’ to notions of development can be discussed. Recognized gender analysis tools can also be discussed in relation to South Africa and Lesotho.
 

Required Reading

  • Esplen, Emily and Susie Jolly. 2006. “Gender and Sex: A Sample of Definitions”, BRIDGE, Institute of Development Studies
  • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), “Gender Analysis”
  •  Gender and Development – a guide, click here
  • Elson, Dian. 1997. “Gender Analysis and Economics in the Context of Africa’s Development”, in Imam A., Mama, A. and Sow F. (eds), Engendering African Social Sciences. Dakar: CODESRIA.
  • Jolly, Susie. 2000. “’Queering Development: Exploring the links between same-sex sexualities, gender, and development”, Gender and Development, Vol. 8, No. 1

    Case Studies on South Africa and Lesotho
    Potgieter Cheryl-Ann, et. al. 2006. Women, Development, and Transport in Rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council
  • Lehohla, Pali. 2009. “Engendering Statistics: A Country Experience of Measuring Women.s Participation in South Africa’s Labour Market”, conference paper, Global Forum on Gender Statistics
  • Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, 2009. “2008 Integrated Labour Force Survey: Preliminary Results Report”, No. 9.
  • Epprecht, Marc. 2000. “’Loose women’ and the crisis of colonialism”, ‘This matter of women is getting very hard’: Gender, Development and Politics in Colonial Lesotho.
    Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press.

    Recommended Reading
     
  • Murray, C. 1981. ‘Changing Family Structure’, in Families Divided: The Impact of Migrant Labour in Lesotho. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Barnes, Teresa. 2002. “Virgin Territory? Travel and migration by African women in Twentieth-Century Southern Africa”, in Jean Allman et. al. (eds). Women in African Colonial Histories.  Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
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Women in Development

This section introduces one of the main feminist critiques of development – Women in Development. An example of a WID approach will be discussed – formulating a women’s budget – the case of South Africa.

Required Reading

  • Young, Kate. 1993. “The appearance of invisible women”, in Planning Develoment with Women: Making a World of Difference. London: Macmillan Education Ltd.
  • Boserup, Ester. 1970, Women’s Role in Economic Development. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
  • Pethu Serote, Anne Mager and Debbie Budlender, “Gender and Development in South Africa in the 1990’s’ in Jan K. Coetzee et. al. 2001. Development: Theory, Policy and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Budlender, Debbie. 1996. “Introduction”, The Women’s Budget. Cape Town: IDASA.
  • BRIDGE. 2007.  “Gender and Indicators”
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Women and Development

This section discusses another feminist critique of development – Women and Development. Taking the clothing industry in Cape Town as an example, the discussion can be on the effects of liberal economic approaches to development on women.

Required reading

  • Pala, Achola, O. 2005. “Definitions of Women and Development: An African Perspective”, in Oyeronke Oyewumi (ed). African Gender Studies: A Reader. New York:  Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Randriamaro, Zo. 2003. “African Women Challenging neo-liberal economic orthodoxy: the conception and mission of the GERA programme”, Gender and Development: Women Reinventing Globalisation, Vol 11, Issue 1.
  • Beneria, Lourdes. 2003. Gender, Development, and Globalisation: Economics as if People Mattered. New York: Routledge.
  • Van Der Westhuizen, C and H. Deedat. 2003. Trade Liberalisation and the socio-economic impact of employment loss on women in the clothing industry. Cape Town: ILRIG

Further Reading

  • Win, Everjoice. 2007. “Not very poor, powerless or pregnant: the African woman forgotten by development”, Institute for Development Studies Bulletin, Vol 45, No. 4.
  • Ongile, Grace. 2004. “Globalisation, Trade and Gender – The Key Concerns”, in Elizabeth Annan-Yao, et al. Gender, Economies, and Entitlements in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA Gender Series 2.
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Gender and Development

This section focuses on a third feminist approach to development – gender and development. In relation to a focus on men and gender identities it is important to discuss the ways in which a gender and development approach can take into consideration varied constructions of femininities and masculinities.

Required Reading

  • Parpart, J. 1995, “Deconstructing the Development ‘Expert’ in Feminism”, in Marianneh Marchand and Jane L. Parpart (eds). Postmodernism, Development. London: Routledge.
  • Tsikata, Dzodzi. 2002. Lip-Service and Peanuts: The State and National Machinery for Women in Africa. Third World Network.
  • Cleaver, Frances. 2002. “Men and Masculinities: New Directions in Gender and Development”, in Francis Cleaver (ed). Masculinities Matter! Men, Gender and Development! London: Zed Books.
  • Stephanie Urdang, ‘Enlisting Men for Women’s Equality’, Africa Renewal, United Nations, Vol. 22 # 1, April 2008
  • Sonke Gender Justice website


Further Reading

  • Babare Kerata Chacha and Kenneth Nyangena, “Globalisation of Sex and the Problematics of Gender Identities in Africa: From Human Rights to Women’s Rights to Sexual Freedom”, Codesria Bulletin, No’s 1&2, 2006
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Gender, Media and Development

The gender, media and development section focuses on the relationship between media, gender and mainstream theories of development. The discussion can be on the perceived role of the media in development in each of the paradigms. In addition, the discussions should also critically discuss mainstream media and development studies in view of the gender development approaches.

Required Readings

  • Vambe, T, Chikonzo, K, & Khan, K (2007), ‘The portrayal of Africans in agricultural films in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe): 1940s to 1950’, Communication 33(1): p113-135
  •  Jeeves, A. (2002), ‘The cinema and health propaganda in South Africa, 1932-45’, click here
  •  Sanger, N. & Hadland, A. (2008), ‘Challenging patriarchal scripts? A gender analysis of South Africa’s community print media’, Agenda (Issue 77), Agenda Feminist Media: Durban


Videos

  • Mazrui, A. (1986), The Africans [video recording]: a triple heritage: a commentary (Disc 2, Programme 4, Tools of exploitation), a co-production of WETA-TV and BBC-TV, Burlington, VT: Annenberg Media 
  • ‘Soul City’, on Prime Time South Africa [video recording]: a selection of post –Apartheid television programs aired by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, California Newsreel: San Franscisco, CA


Further Readings

  • Binedell, E. (2002), ‘Debating educational films for ‘natives’: South Africa in the 1930s,’ Limina 8: p75-92 
  • Smyth, R. (1992), ‘The post-war career of the colonial film unit in Africa: 1946-1955,’ Historical Journal of Film, Radio & Television; 12 (2), p163
  • Hungwe, K.D.(2005), ‘Narrative and ideology: 50 years of film-making in Zimbabwe,’ Media Culture and Society, 27(1): 83-99
  • Berger, G. (2002a), ‘New Media and development: learning from whence we come,’ click here
  • Berger, G. (2005), ‘Modernisation and Africa’s emerging engagement with the Information Society,’ click here
  • Wambui, M. (2003), ‘Take women and radio; add new media,’ in Rhodes Journalism Review 23, click here
  • Banda, F. (2007), ‘An Appraisal of the Applicability of Development Journalism in the Context of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB),’ Communication 33(2) p154-170
  • Ojo, T. ‘Post-NWICO debate: Image of Africa in the Western Media,’ click here
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Gender and International Development Institutions

This section gives an overview of the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB), and the International Monitory Fund (IMF). With specific reference to institutional approaches to gender equality, it is important to discuss how these institutions have influenced Africa’s development policy and practice over the last 20 years. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project can be used as a case study.

Required Reading

  • Jain, Devaki. 2005. “Development as if Women Mattered, 1986-1995”, Women, Development, and the UN. Bloomington: Indiana Press.
  • Dzodzi Tsikata and Joanna Kerr et al. (eds). 2000. “Introduction”, Demanding Dignity: Women Confronting Economic Reforms in Africa. Accra: North South Institute and Third World Network.
  • Moser, Caroline, et.al. 1998. Mainstreaming Gender and Development in the World Bank: Progress and Recommendations. Washington: World Bank
  • UNRISD. 2005. Gender Equality: Striving for Justice in an Unjust World.
  • World Bank. 2006. Gender Equality as Smart Economics: A World Bank Group Gender Action Plan (Fiscal years 2007-2010).


Readings on Lesotho Highlands Water Project:

  • Mohasi, Mantini et al, “Empowering women to serve as catalysts in poverty reduction in Lesotho: using adult education as a strategic approach”
  • Thamae, Mabusetsa, Lenka and Lori Pottinger (ed). 2006. On the Wrong Side of Development: Lessons Learned from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Maseru: Transformation Resource Centre.
  • Akindele, Femi and Relebohile Senyane (eds). 2004. The Irony of the “White Gold”. Maseru: Morjija Printing Works.
  • Hemson, D., Drimie, S. & Thabane, K. 2004, “This Dam is Cruel”: Women’s Lives and the Lesotho Highlands Water Project”. Research Report by HSRC commissioned by UNIFEM

    Useful websites:
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Gender and Continental Institutions

With reference to the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s development, this part of the curriculum can focus on continental approaches to gender and development in Africa.

Required Reading

  • Maloka, Eddy. 2002. “Introduction: Africa’s Development Thinking Since Independence”, in Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA). Africa’s Development Thinking since Independence. A Reader. Pretoria: AISA.
  • Rudvidzo, Thoko and Hannah Tiagha. 2005. “The African Gender and Development Index: An African Response to the decade Review of the Beijing Platform for Action” in Christi van der Westhuizen (ed), Gender Instruments in Africa: Critical Perspectives, Future Strategies. Midrand: Institute for Global Dialogue
  • Rriandriamaro, Zo. 2002. “The NEPAD, Gender and the Poverty Trap: The NEPAD and the challenges of financing for development in Africa from a gender perspective”, conference paper, Conference on Africa and Development Challenges of the New Millennium.
  • Awasom, Susanna Yene. 2005. “Hegemonic Masculinity as a Distorted Development Paradigm for Africa”, CODESRIA Bulletin, Nos 3 & 4.
  • Ebeku, Kaniye, SA. 2006. “Considering the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa”, AFRICA INSIGHT, Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA). Vol 1, No 1
  • Warioba, Christine. 2005. “The role of national mechanisms in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women: SADC experience”, paper presented at UN conference.


Useful web links:

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Gender and Development in the context of armed conflict?

With reference to women’s and men’s varied experiences of armed conflict in Africa, this section highlights how development, peace and gender equality are inextricably connected. It is important to explore the gendered impact of conflict and debate how gender and development can be taken into account in situations of humanitarian crisis and violent conflict.

Required Reading

  • Cockburn, C. 2001. “The Gendered dynamics of Armed Conflict and Political Violence”, In C. Moser (ed). Victims, Perpetrators or Actors? Gender, Armed Conflict and Political Violence. New York: Zed Books.
  • Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR). 2005. Women and Peacebuilding in Africa. Policy seminar report.
  • Rehn, Elisabeth and Johnson, Ellen-Sirleaf, “Women forced to flee”, Women, War, Peace: The Independent Experts. Assessment.  Progress of the Worlds Women, Vol 1. New York: UNIFEM
  • Large, Judith, 1997. “Disintegration conflicts and the Restructuring of Masculinity” in Caroline Sweetman (ed), Gender and Development, Vol 5, No. 2.
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Gendered Politics of Sexuality and HIV/AIDS

This section highlights the significance of heterosexual masculinities and femininities in shaping experiences of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection, treatment, and care. Attention is paid to mainstream responses to HIV/AIDS and the ways in which gender power relations are overlooked.

Required Reading

  • Smith, Kamal Mohga. 2008. “Gender Poverty, and Intergenerational Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS”, Gender and Development, Vol. 10, No. 3.
  • Tallis Vicci. 2000. “Gendering the Responses to HIV/AIDS: Challenging the Gender Inequality”, Agenda, No. 44
  • Reddy, Shakila and Mairead Dunne.2007. “Risking It: Young Heterosexual Femininities in South African Context of HIV/AIDS”, Sexualities, Vol 10 (2).
  • Simpson, Anthony. 2007. “Learning Sex and Gender in Zambia: Masculinities and HIV/AIDS Risk”, Sexualities, Vol 10 (2).
  • Peacock, Dean and Mark Weston. 2008. “Men and care in the context of HIV/AIDS: Structure, political will and greater male involvement”, conference paper for UN expert meeting.
  • UNAIDS. 2003. “Gender and HIV/AIDS”
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Conclusion

In this section, it is important to summarise the key points raised in the course.

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