Gender and Multigenerational Global Human Development

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2013

Department

Anthropology and Sociology

School

Social Science and Global Studies

Abstract

In the context of a growing campaign to focus more international development efforts on women and girls, this article presents a pathways model of multigenerational global human development through an examination of gender and women as agents of development in the context of motherhood. As the vast majority of the world's women are mothers, issues related to motherhood are fundamental to addressing gender and development. Based on the United Nations' concept of human development and a review of the literature, we explore how women are uniquely effective development agents in that increases in women's access to income, education, and health often have higher potential payoffs compared with men in terms of the next generation and beyond. A human development paradigm that does not fully include women is both an injustice to half of the world's population and a missed opportunity for maximizing human development for both men and women in generations to come. Gender and development policies must consider the enhancement of human capacities for long-term improved quality of life, and they must address structural barriers to equality to not only allow women more opportunities in the public sphere but also to transform gender relations in the domestic sphere. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Publication Title

Sociology Compass

Volume

7

Issue

8

First Page

612

Last Page

629

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS