SOCY 211

LEARNING ACTIVITY 7

WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT:

STUDY UNIT: 4

LECTURER: MS. K. PHAJANE

J.E. COETZEE

33760845

TEL: 0795043183

08 MAY 2021

1. Introduction

The role and significance of women in development has arguably been largely overlooked or even disregarded in even the recent past. However, there may be some significant change on the proverbial horizon. Herein will lead a brief discussion on an organisation called Women in Development (WID) and how it is working tirelessly on improving women’s role in both development, and society at large.

2. Women in development

This non-governmental organisation aims at making women an integral part of development – both in practice and theory. It seeks to acknowledge women’s roles in development and how they have been systemically overlooked and excluded within development research and practices. Additionally, WID seeks acknowledgment and rectification of women’s long-held subordinate position within the patriarchy and the view they have been labelled with as mere reproductive agents. This is largely accomplished through their efforts to promote the advancement of women within the economy and occupational field.

WID utilises the egalitarian ideology of equal genders and equal gender rights and opportunities in order to establish women’s place and significance within development and the developmental process. In other words, providing women with an equal chance at advancing within the field of occupation and thus manifest for the first time the truly important role they play in development and developmental processes.

3. WID in the South African context

An apt example of how women are empowered in South Africa, is the standardised practice for women to be given priority when it comes to the hiring of top-level management as well as leadership positions. In doing so, women are thus given equal opportunity for economic advancement, and thus also the opportunity to not only flourish and prosper within their own right, but to occupy their rightful, equally significant roles within the development of the economy and society at large.

4. Conclusion

Thus, it may be concluded that the oppressive and restricting roles occupied by generations of women within both development (in the form of not acknowledging their significant role therein), and society (in the form of being viewed as little more than agents of reproduction) is finally being challenged on not just a societal level, but on structural level as well.