Spring 2004

WGS 393 • Gender and Development

Course Description

The course is devoted to the study of gender from a comparative perspective. Attention is paid to patterns of gender inequality and to women’s movements in different countries. Although our discussions draw on the literature on gender in the West, the emphasis is on gender in the context of social organization, culture and politics in societies in the rest of the world. The topics we explore include the legacy of colonialism on gender debates, the effect of globalization on women’s roles, the place of gender in the redefinition of citizenship and civil society, and the interaction between local/national movements and the international discourse of women’s rights. The theoretical focus is on the intersection between macrostructural processes and gender issues. Students may choose to focus their research on a given country or on intra-region and international comparisons.

Grading Policy

The course meets once a week and attendance is expected. The course grade depends upon the following: Position Papers/Critiques of Readings 20%, Class Presentations 30%, and a Term Paper 50% (topic selected after consultation with the instructor). The paper will is due on the date of the final seminar session.

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