This paper discusses socio-economic development as a Western cultural construction. It first surveys various theories that deconstruct development and women in development, and then elaborates on the stereotypes and dilemmas of the feminist development enterprise in the Middle East. Attention is further given to local co-operation with or resistance to Northern development ideas and practices. The paper ends with an attempt to think beyond the post-colonial power relations between secular imperialism and Islamist resistance, arguing that this dichotomy results from 'Western-centric' perspectives.