WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AS A DEVELOPMENT GOAL: TAKING A FEMINIST STANDPOINT
In this paper, through a case study of a large international non‐governmental organisation, I identify a number of contradictions and tensions that arise when development agencies attempt to foster ‘women's empowerment’. Despite their presentation as apolitical, agencies are inescapably involved in relations of power, and their lack of attention to this is not accidental. In such cases, ‘empowerment’ risks becoming a signifier of righteousness—part of the process of mystification of dominant group interests. The paper discusses how developing a feminist standpoint could help avoid such mystification. However, such a process is one which cannot be prescribed but must be freely chosen. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Year of publication: |
2014
|
---|---|
Authors: | Mosley, P. ; Mosedale, Sarah |
Published in: |
Journal of International Development. - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., ISSN 0954-1748. - Vol. 26.2014, 8, p. 1115-1125
|
Publisher: |
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
Saved in:
freely available
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
Regulation, markets and poverty
Cook, Paul, (2007)
-
Women's empowerment as a development goal : taking a feminist standpoint
Mosedale, Sarah, (2014)
-
Impact assessment for pro-poor accountability: Innovations and challenges
Mayoux, Linda, (2005)
- More ...