Gender in Latin American Development

This syllabus was originally taught in Fall 2014
Instructor: Prof. Carmen Diana Deere 

Course Objective:

A central question in the field of Gender & Development is the relationship between the process of economic development, attaining gender equality and the empowerment of women. For example, over the course of the 20th century women in Latin America gained a broad range of economic and political rights so that in most countries men and women now have equal rights before the law. Nonetheless, there continues to be a significant gap between formal and real equality. This seminar examines the evolution of women’s property rights, access to resources and employment, and socio-economic position under the various models and strategies of Latin American economic development. Particular attention is given to the theoretical and policy debates regarding the meaning and measurement of women’s empowerment; the role of the women’s movement in advancing a feminist and social justice agenda; and the impact of policy interventions on households and gender relations. The goal of the course is to deepen students’ understanding of the Latin American development experience by viewing it through a gender lens. The specific objectives include enhancing students’ analytical, research and writing skills, as well as familiarity with interdisciplinary research methods. The seminar combines lectures, discussion and student presentations.

Course Outline:

1. Introduction: The Road to Empowerment (WID, WAD, GAD and the Latin American Women’s Movement)
2. Gender, Development and Women’s Empowerment
3. Measuring Progress towards Women’s Economic Autonomy and Empowerment
4. Households and Bargaining Power Theory
5. Property Rights and Asset Accumulation
6. Bargaining Power, Intimate Partner Violence and Gender Violence 
7. Urban Labor Markets, Globalization and Gender
8. Gender and International Migration
9. Rural Women, Land and the Neoliberal Reforms
10. Rural Labor Markets and the Feminization of Agriculture
11. Gender, Natural Resource Management and Climate Change
12. Gender, Poverty and Anti-Poverty Strategies
13. Gender Gaps in Savings and Access to Credit
14. Gender, the Care Economy, and Social Protection
15. Wrap-up and Class Presentations

Download syllabus here

Comment from our editors:

This syllabus is part of the Syllabi collection on International Association for Feminist Economics. This course is suitable for graduate students.