Women in development

Women in development (WID) refers to the critical role that women play in the development process,
and the need to ensure their full participation and inclusion in development initiatives. Historically,
women have been marginalized and excluded from development activities, and their contributions to
economic, social, and political development have often gone unrecognized.

The WID approach emerged in the 1970s as a response to the recognition of the gender-based
inequalities and discrimination that existed in development policies and programs. The WID approach
aimed to address the issues of gender inequality by incorporating women's perspectives and needs into
development planning and implementation.

Since then, the approach has evolved to encompass a more comprehensive understanding of gender
and development, including gender mainstreaming, gender analysis, and gender-responsive budgeting.
These approaches seek to address the root causes of gender inequalities, including unequal access to
resources, services, and opportunities, as well as discriminatory social norms and attitudes.

The importance of including women in development initiatives is widely recognized, as research has
shown that investing in women's empowerment and gender equality can lead to significant economic
and social benefits. Women's increased participation in the labor force, for example, can lead to higher
economic growth, while their access to education and healthcare can lead to improved health outcomes
and reduced poverty rates.

However, despite progress in recent years, women continue to face significant challenges in accessing
resources and opportunities, and gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in many societies.
Addressing these challenges requires ongoing efforts to promote women's empowerment and gender
equality, and to ensure that development initiatives are inclusive and responsive to the needs and
perspectives of women.

Women and development

Women and Development (WAD) is a more recent approach that emerged in the 1980s as a critique of
the Women in Development (WID) approach. The WAD approach emphasized the need to address the
root causes of gender inequality and discrimination, including the unequal distribution of power and
resources between men and women in society.

The WAD approach argued that women's subordination and marginalization were not just a result of
their exclusion from development initiatives but were instead deeply rooted in the social, economic, and
political structures of society. Therefore, addressing gender inequality required more fundamental
changes in these structures, rather than just incorporating women into existing development policies
and programs.

The WAD approach emphasized the importance of women's participation in decision-making processes
at all levels, from the household to the community and the state. It recognized the diverse experiences
of women, particularly those from marginalized groups, and the need to address the intersectionality of
gender with other forms of social identity, such as race, class, and sexuality.

The WAD approach also highlighted the importance of women's agency and their active participation in
defining their own development needs and priorities. It advocated for a bottom-up approach to
development that prioritizes the participation and involvement of local communities and women in
decision-making and planning processes.

In summary, Women and Development is an approach that emphasizes the need to address the root
causes of gender inequality and discrimination, rather than just incorporating women into existing
development policies and programs. It recognizes the importance of women's participation, agency, and
diversity, and advocates for a bottom-up approach to development that prioritizes their involvement in
decision-making and planning processes.

Gender and Development (GAD)

Gender and Development (GAD) is an approach that emerged in the 1980s as a response to the
limitations of the Women in Development (WID) and Women and Development (WAD) approaches. The
GAD approach recognizes the need to address gender inequality in development processes and
outcomes, and to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. Here are some key points
about Gender and Development:

 Definition: An approach that focuses on the social construction of gender and how it affects
development processes and outcomes. The GAD approach emphasizes the need to address
gender inequalities and promote gender equality and women's empowerment.

 Key Principles:

 Gender is a social construct that affects development processes and outcomes.

 Gender inequalities are the result of power relations and social norms that disadvantage
women and girls.

 Gender equality and women's empowerment are essential for sustainable development.

 Gender is intersectional and intersects with other forms of social identity, such as class,
race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

 Key Issues:
  Gender-based violence and discrimination.

 Access to and control over resources, such as land, credit, and education.

 Unequal distribution of labor and care responsibilities.

 Stereotypes and norms that limit women's participation in decision-making and

leadership.

 Key Contributions:

 Shifted the focus from women to gender, recognizing the need to address gender
inequalities that affect both women and men.

 Emphasized the importance of addressing power relations and social norms that
perpetuate gender inequalities.

 Led to the development of gender mainstreaming as a strategy for integrating gender

perspectives into development policies and programs.

 Key Criticisms:

 Some critics argue that the GAD approach tends to overlook the specific needs and
experiences of women, particularly those from marginalized groups.

 Others argue that the approach has been co-opted by neoliberal development agendas
that prioritize economic growth over social justice.

 Key Strategies:

 Gender mainstreaming: Integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of development

policies and programs.

 Gender analysis: Examining the differential impacts of development policies and

programs on women and men, and identifying opportunities for promoting gender
equality and women's empowerment.

 Engendering governance: Promoting women's participation in decision-making and

leadership at all levels of governance.
 Women and Development
Feature Women in Development (WID) (WAD) Gender and Development (GAD)

Era 1970s 1980s 1990s

What it is Addressing women's exclusion Recognizing women's Analyzing gender roles and relations in
for from development processes contributions to development development

Women as passive recipients of

Focus on development Women's roles in development Gender relations and power dynamics

Critique of mainstream
Origin development approaches Critique of WID's limitations Critique of WAD's limitations

Mainstreaming gender into Recognizing women's agency Analyzing and transforming gender
Purpose development in development inequalities in development

Addressing women's strategic Addressing gender-based power

Function Addressing women's practical needs needs imbalances and promoting gender equality
 Women in Development Women and Development Gender and Development
Key principles (WID) (WAD) (GAD)

Women should have an Both women and men should

Women should be included active role in development participate in development
Participation in development processes decision-making processes

Empowering women and

Focusing on women's Recognizing women's transforming gender relations
practical needs will lead to agency will lead to their will lead to sustainable
Empowerment their empowerment empowerment development

Gender roles are fixed and Gender roles are socially

women need to be Gender roles are dynamic constructed and can be
integrated into and women play important transformed through
Gender roles development roles in development development

Women's issues should be Gender analysis should be

Gender is a separate issue mainstreamed into mainstreamed into all
Mainstreaming in development development development processes

Did not go far enough in

Focused too narrowly on Focused too narrowly on addressing gender inequalities
Critiques women's practical needs women's agency and power imbalances