Title: A critical review of women's status and rights.

POPLINE Document Number: 120285

Author(s):

Thin N

Source citation:

In: Advancing women's status: women and men together? Gender, society and development. Amsterdam, Netherlands, Royal Tropical Institute, 1995. :22-57. (Critical Reviews and Annotated Bibliographies Series)

Abstract:

Although a dismantling of the inequalities that subordinate women and prevent them from realizing their potential is essential to social progress, the benefits to society of a balanced approach to undoing injustice must be recognized as well. Contextual differences in women's positions relative to both men and women of other social classes and ethnic groups hinder global efforts to promote women's human rights. A key policy issue relates to how to bring about equal participation of men and women in the mainstream of development without resorting to separatist strategies (e.g., women's bureaus) that perpetuate the marginalization of women. Emerging is a less gender-segregated approach to gender inequalities that identifies strategies for involving men, both separately and with women. Given men's power, gender planning must be as explicit about men's interests as it is about women's interests, and it must address both gender conflicts and gender complementarities. Social planners are urged to find contextualized win-win solutions to gender inequalities that are perceived by both men and women as being in their combined interest. Appended to this review is an annotated bibliography of research on interventions aimed at improving women's status.

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Literature Review
Critique
Bibliography
Women's Status
Human Rights
Gender Issues
Poverty
Social Policy
Women in Development
Program Development
Women
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Policy
Economic Development
Programs
Organization and Administration
Demographic Factors
Population