The development processes have a positive effect on men mostly and a negative effect on women. The process looks down on the role, status and position of women in society. The undermining of women is a fact that is universal and visible in all societies. The reason behind their lower status as compared to men is their biological difference( biological determinism). This view was challenged stating that it was not the biological difference in itself but how the social construction of gender which was interpreted within culturally defined value systems.

Four distinctive models have been formed in order to explain how and why women and men are affected by development differently. These models are as follows:

1. Women in development (WID)

- It started in the early 1970s and it's focus is on women. The problem it focuses on is that women are excluded from the mainstream development. The mainstream development is linked to the modernisation theory. The WID aims at integrating women into the development process. 

2. Women and development (WAD)

-It started in the mid 1970s as a critique to WID and it focuses on women. The problem they focusing on is that women's contribution to the development process is not recognized even though they part of the development process. This development process has a negative influence on women and it is linked to the dependency theory. The WAD aims at involving  women as active participants of development both in the private and public sectors.

3. Gender and development (GAD)

- It started in the 1980s and it's focus is on women and men. The problem it focuses on is that equitable development and women's full participation is prevented because of unequal relations of power. It links to the socialist feminist thinking. The GAD aims at empowering women and transforming unequal relations between women and men.

4. Postmodernism and Development  (PAD)

 - It started in the 1980s and it's focus is on women. The probem it focuses is that women are seen as victims and recipients of development, the diversity of third world women is not recognized and the third world women is presented as a homogenous group. PAD is linked to post development and post modern feminism. The PAD aims at offering valuable contributions to theories of development by seeking to recognise issues of power, difference and gender.

-The most useful approaches are the GAD and PAD because they focus on equality amongst women and men, not just on women.