This course is for students who wish to build a deeper understanding of the elements of the scholarly debates and analytical tools of Gender and Development, including the theories around gender and empowerment, and contemporary approaches to gender equity and mainstreaming. This is done through a balance of thought-provoking regional and sectoral case studies from different cultural contexts including South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and indigenous societies; as well as in key themes such as empowerment, water, and mining. The approach is critical, bottom-up, and inclusive. A key question that will be addressed through the course is that despite the sophistication of scholarly understanding of gender and inequality, why it is still difficult to fully address gender issues in development projects and programs. The course will therefore benefit students who intend to go for higher academic research, those who want to work as development practitioners and those who want to acquire an in-depth understanding of the field.

• to demonstrate a critical appreciation of the almost all the major gender issues in development;
• to have a strong understanding of the concepts and approaches used by development scholars and practitioners, linking them to gender and development theory;
• be familiar with the to main gender concerns, be able to identify the gaps and use the skills in formulating development projects from a gender perspective;
• to describe and evaluate data from a gender perspective, and appraise a development project or policy in terms of the likely gender impacts of it; and

to reflect critically on their own experiences of gender and development in light of the concepts and methods introduced in the course.

Literature Review paper on selected readings (20%); Major Essay 7,000 words (60%); Virtual Workshop Participation (10%); class participation 10%.

200 hours (including weekly 2.5 hour lecture/workshop)

This is a required course for students in the MAAPD Gender specialisation. Other students wishing to do the course should inquire with the lecturer.

High speed internet access is required to access online course materials.

Delivery Mode:

Semester 1

This course is provided through flexible delivery to both on campus and off campus students.