The Social Lives of Gender and Religion: Implications for Development Policy

Abstract

To date, the literature on 'gender and development' has remained largely sequestered from that on 'religion and development', and consequently the presence of conceptual problems common to the two fields has gone largely unremarked. This paper identifies three such conceptual problems, here termed categorization, identification and representation. The oversight of common conceptual problems has important implications for the assessment of religion and gender in sustainable development policy. One such effect, I argue, is the consolidation of a narrow range of negative and secularist readings of the potential role of gender and religion in sustainable development. To circumvent conceptualizations that may give rise to prejudicial readings of gender and religion, this paper follows feminist and religious studies scholars in arguing that we conceive of gender and religion as permeable categories and non-exclusive identities, constituted by diverse discursive elements.

Religion and development: Tracing the trajectories of an evolving sub-discipline

“…Found repeatedly through the 2011-2017 literature are demands for contextual, empirical research which would guide more culturally appropriate, enduring development efforts. Critiques emerge in this period of the previous narrow focus on FBOs, among other topics, which were categorised and homogenized (Kanyandago, 2011;Bradley, 2011;Deneulin and Rakodi, 2011;Balchin, 2011;Ferris, 2011;Petersen, 2012;Tomalin, 2012;Fountain, 2013;Jennings, 2013;Johnston, 2013;Butt, 2014;Clarke and Tittensor, 2014;Karam, 2014;Mee, 2016). As a result, literature of the last five years has asked for greater appreciation of diversity of religious groups and organisations and a clear suggestion that academia must learn to work through the complexity of the field rather than neatly organise it into models and categories (Tadros, 2011;Bompani, 2014;Van Klinken, 2015).…”

Religion, Sustainable Development and Policy: Principles to Practice

“…Sustainable development policy's capacity to respond adequately to women's vulnerabilities has been limited, in large part because of development policy's incapacity to consider religion's role in shaping their lives. In fact, as Wendy Mee () notes, the study of women and religion, and women and development, has remained distinct in spite of intimate overlaps between the two areas. Mee argues therefore for the conception of both religion and gender as permeable notions in order for configurations of gendered power and powerlessness thus produced to be represented in development policy.…”