Course overview
This course investigates crucial interconnections between empowerment, gender and community development, examining the ways in which gender and community participation, influence development policies, processes and programs; and the extent to which development, gendered relations, and communities are transformed in the process. It examines key concepts and theoretical frameworks of development with a particular focus on the intersection of development terms such as community, participation, sustainability, gender, equality & empowerment, in light of current issues in development discourse and critical analysis of development practice and policy. In the course, then, we explore the use of certain concepts and ideals, such as empowerment, gender equality, sustainable development, as well as central issues in development practice and policy. These include the interaction between poverty and gender; the empowerment of women through work and microfinance/credit; and the proposed empowerment of communities (and countries) through the girl effect. The complexities of corporate community development are also examined, as is the practice of tourism (volunteer/cultural) as sustainable community development; the issue of gendered violence, legislation and human rights at the level of local communities; and an analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals from the standpoint of gender and the community.
Course learning outcomes
- Secure and accurate understanding of the nature and theories of development at the community and/or grassroots level as well as the main critiques of development from a gender-based perspective.
- Knowledge of and insight into key issues and concerns raised about the nature of development and development studies from a critical perspective.
- Ability to understand and apply key theoretical approaches to contemporary development contexts and situations.
- Capacity to critically evaluate central themes, propositions and concepts in development studies, particularly those concerned with community development and gender-based development.
- Commitment to an academically rigorous comprehension of the diversity of community and participatory development contexts, policies and practices.
- Sensitivity and ability to work collaboratively in teams as well as individually in a learning and research intensive environment.
- Understanding of and commitment to continuous learning and research into development policies and programs, and acknowledgement of specific cultural and social issues in global development programs and policies.