CSS Exam Questions 2016 and 2021: Gender and Development Approaches on WID, WAD and GAD

Summary

The video explains the key differences between three approaches in gender studies: Women in Development (WID), Women and Development (WAD), and Gender and Development (GAD). WID focuses on including women in development, WAD emphasizes recognizing women’s contributions and economic rights, while GAD aims at transforming gender relations and achieving systemic equality. The discussion covers their supporters, objectives, scope, strategies, initiatives, achievements, and weaknesses, highlighting how WID is limited, WAD broadens focus to community recognition, and GAD pursues comprehensive social and policy reforms. The video clarifies these frameworks for better understanding and practical application in development contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 WID (Women in Development) focuses on integrating women into existing development processes.
• 😀 WAD (Women and Development) emphasizes that women are already part of development, but their contributions often go unrecognized.
• 😀 GAD (Gender and Development) seeks to transform gender relations across social, economic, and political spheres.
• 😀 Liberal feminists supported WID, Marxist feminists supported WAD, and socialist feminists supported GAD.
• 😀 The objective of WID is to include women in development; WAD aims to recognize women’s contributions; GAD aims to change systemic gender relations.
• 😀 WID has a limited scope, WAD has a broader scope recognizing women's roles, and GAD has a systemic scope covering policy, culture, and social norms.
• 😀 WID targets women, especially marginalized groups; WAD targets community cooperation; GAD targets society at large for equal opportunities regardless of sex.
• 😀 WID strategies involve adding women to development projects, WAD focuses on gender mainstreaming, and GAD addresses power relations and legislative reforms.
• 😀 Initiatives under WID include microfinance, literacy, and vocational programs; WAD promotes equal opportunities for both genders; GAD focuses on legislative reforms to protect women's rights.
• 😀 WID achievements include providing opportunities for marginalized women; WAD improves social capital and gender equality; GAD achieves policy and societal changes.
• 😀 Weaknesses: WID is top-down and limited; WAD requires cultural change and is slow; GAD requires broad consensus and is a complex, gradual process.

Q & A

What does WID stand for and what is its main focus?

WID stands for Women in Development. Its main focus is on including women in existing development processes, particularly in areas where they have been marginalized.

How does WAD differ from WID in terms of recognizing women's roles?

WAD (Women and Development) differs from WID by recognizing that women are already part of development. The approach emphasizes acknowledging their contributions and ensuring they receive economic benefits and social recognition for their labor.

What is the core objective of the GAD approach?

The Gender and Development (GAD) approach aims to transform gender relations across social, economic, and political spheres, addressing power imbalances and promoting equality for all genders.

Which feminist groups typically support WID, WAD, and GAD respectively?

Liberal feminists generally support WID, Marxist feminists support WAD, and socialist feminists support GAD.

What is the scope difference between WID, WAD, and GAD?

WID has a limited scope focusing on women's inclusion in development projects. WAD has a wider scope recognizing women as integral to development alongside men. GAD has the broadest scope, addressing systemic social, economic, and political changes for gender equality.

What are the main strategies used by WID, WAD, and GAD?

WID uses a strategy of adding women to existing development processes. WAD focuses on gender mainstreaming and complementary opportunities for men and women. GAD addresses power relations, strategic and practical gender needs, and aims for systemic social change.

Can you provide examples of initiatives taken under each approach?

Under WID, initiatives include microfinance programs, vocational training, and literacy programs for women. WAD promotes community cooperation and equal access to resources for both men and women. GAD focuses on legislative reforms, economic rights (such as inheritance laws), and addressing gender-based violence.

What are the achievements of WID, WAD, and GAD?

WID achieved increased opportunities for women in marginalized areas. WAD strengthened social capital and improved gender equality at the community level. GAD led to significant public policy changes, legislative reforms, and greater societal awareness of gender issues.

What are some criticisms of the WID approach?

WID is criticized for focusing only on women, ignoring gender mainstreaming, prioritizing a top-down approach, and undervaluing private or family roles.

Why is GAD considered a more complex and slow approach?

GAD requires consensus across different cultures and aims to change social structures and legislation, making it complex. Because it seeks systemic change, the process is slow and immediate societal changes are unlikely.

How does WAD approach community and gender equality?

WAD emphasizes community cooperation where men and women complement each other. It seeks to provide equal opportunities for both sexes while highlighting women's unrecognized contributions in development.

What role do strategic and practical gender needs play in GAD?

Strategic gender needs focus on addressing power imbalances, such as decision-making rights, inheritance, and political participation, while practical gender needs address day-to-day necessities. Both are crucial in GAD for achieving equality and systemic change.