Becky Blab

Check out this insightful review of a book called “Development has a Woman’s Face: Insights from within the UN System”:

Dr Ahoojapatel observes that the slow and inequitable socio-economic development of the countries, specially those of the South, has been due, on the one hand, to gender-biased definitions and methodologies used for measuring economic growth and development, and on the other, the exclusion of socio-cultural factors in defining the indices of growth.

Dr Ahoojapatel illustrates, with rich data and examples, how mere economic indices of development do not nccessarily reduce gender inequalities. The two northern States of Haryana and Punjab—where despite a high rate of economic growth, women’s work participation rates are very low, dowry rates are high and female foeticede the highest—give an indication of the low status of women.

While economic growth may be beneficial in some aspects, certainly it is not a panacea to all the problems humans face. We must be attuned to not only inequalities in income, which is becoming a big issue in this era of globalisation, but the corresponding social and gender inequalities that persist despite economic growth. Many development programmes are now focusing on how to help women gain more from the trade liberalisation which accompanies globalisation, yet the same policies which promote trade may also act to undermine these projects of sustainable development.

So, don’t be fooled by headlines that India is an upcoming world superpower, and that it’s raging ahead on the path of ‘progress’ because of it’s 9% growth. Think twice before equating the rhetoric with improved lives for women.