Feminisms, Empowerment and Development: Changing Womens Lives (Feminisms and Development) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1780325835 ISBN 13: 9781780325835

Publisher: Zed Books, 2014

Synopsis

The economic and political empowerment of women continues to be a central focus for development agencies worldwide; access to medical care, education and employment, as well as women's reproductive rights remain key factors effecting women's autonomy. This book explores what women are doing to change their own circumstances, and provides in-depth analysis of collective action and institutionalized mechanisms aimed at changing structural relations.

Drawing on unique, original research and approaching empowerment as a complex process of negotiation, rather than a linear sequence of inputs and outcomes, this crucial collection highlights the difficulty of creating common agendas for the advancement of women's power and rights, and argues for a more nuanced, context based approach to development theory and practice.

An indispensible text for anyone interested in gender and development.

About this title

About the Author:

Andrea Cornwall is professor of anthropology and international development in the School of Global Studies at Sussex University. She is coeditor of Dislocating Masculinity and Men and Development.

Review:

'In a neoliberal development paradigm obsessed with silver bullets for complex social challenges, this book is a transformative text that reveals the multifaceted, unpredictable and even contradictory results of empowerment processes. Its rich array of insights and lessons - most powerfully articulated in the voices of women engaged in the struggle - has immense value for researchers, activists, policy makers, and the aid and philanthropic community. I consider this a vitally important text for all those who believe there can be no development or social justice without gender justice.' Srilatha Batliwala, Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) 'This book, with rich empirically grounded chapters from around the world, is a truly feminist multidisciplinary collection that brings the discourse on women's empowerment to a new level.' Radhika Balakrishnan, Rutgers University 'A helpful book at the right time. After decades of trying to get women's rights to the top of policy-making agendas, it is refreshing to read sound analysis about the pitfalls, "rallying points" and "hidden pathways" that feminist activists, organizations and movements are today facing.' Nicky McIntyre, Mama Cash 'Based on context-specific, wide-ranging and incisive analysis, this innovative and insightful book ... raises hard and serious questions that help us lay to rest conventional assumptions and easy generalizations related to women's empowerment. It provides a stimulating and solid contribution to ongoing debates on social change.' Zenbework Tadesse, women's rights activist and member of the board of DAWN

About this edition

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1780325835
• ISBN 13: 9781780325835
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 344
• Editor: Edwards Jenny, Cornwall Andrea