Critical Social Inquiry 0165 - Gender & Economic Development

This course examines the often contradictory impacts of the process of economic development on gender relations in developing countries and asks: what challenges do global economic trends pose for gender equality and equity in developing countries? To answer this question, we will begin with an introduction to alternative approaches to economics and to economic development, focusing on the differences between neoclassical and feminist economics. We will then go on to examine and critique the theoretical frameworks that have shaped the gender perspective in economic development. This will be followed by an exploration of the impacts of economic development policy on men and women and on gender relations in Africa, Asia and Latin America, in the context of a globalizing world economy. Special topics will include the household as a unit of analysis; women's unpaid labor, the gendered impacts of economic restructuring and economic crisis; the feminization of the labor force in the formal and informal sectors of the global economy. The course will conclude with an evaluation of tools and strategies for achieving gender equity within the context of a sustainable, human-centered approach to economic development.

Power, Community and Social Justice Quantitative Skills Multiple Cultural Perspectives Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.