Gender issues and rural development in developing countries: From the case study of 'improving living standards project' in Paraguay and women's empowerment
2007
Fujikake, Y.(Tokyo Kasei Gakuin Univ. (Japan))
Gender and development (GAD) now embraces a significant body of practitioners, activists, donors and academics (Cornwall 2004). While dialogue concerning GAD is deepening, international aid organizations and NGOs are now considering gender viewpoint when undertaking rural development projects in developing countries. As for criticisms against GAD, it is said that women have been characterized as a single group on the basis of 'sharing a common oppression' (Mohanty 1991) and that GAD does not go beyond Women's Studies, that is, men are nonexistent (Cornwall 2000). Cornwall argues the 'men's problem' discourse, that is, the gender problem originates in men (ibid.). In this paper the diverse daily practices of women living in a rural village in a developing country are studied from the case study of the 'Improving Living Standards Project' carried out in village 'S' in rural Paraguay. At the same time changes to gender relationships, including men and the social structure in the target society, are analyzed. From the aforementioned, the possibility of a realignment in gender structure as a result of people's empowerment in the target area is examined. Furthermore, a new gender issues which must be addressed are considered.
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