This is a research seminar that is designed to engages students in an
inquiry of issues related to gender and its implications for individual
development/empowerment. Work by
students in both domestic and international, comparative context is encouraged.
A cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, “round table” discussion format
is envisioned. Although course
readings and lectures will have a specific emphasis on gender and housing, and,
gender and work, students interested in research on other aspects of gender and
development are encouraged to bring these perspectives to the table. Specific attention will be paid to the situation of women
relative to men with regard to their access to housing and work and the
implications of this for societal well being.
Presentations by the instructor will review the evolution of thinking
about women’s development. Recent
literature on women and housing and women and work particularly with respect to
self-employment and micro-enterprise will be discussed.
Students will conduct a scrutiny and critical analysis of: economic and
social processes that perpetuate gender inequalities; make connections between
theory and case evidence; survey recent literature in development planning and
related disciplines; and identify approaches to research that produce
theory-grounded action and policy.
The work will culminate in a final term paper.
Background
On Women and Housing and Women and Work:
1. Women and Housing
Around the world, women's access to shelter is inextricably linked with her
economic, legal, and social status. While
there is substantial evidence that the international shortage of housing is
predominantly a woman's problem, consideration of gender issues in the provision
of shelter remains marginal in policy decisions. Both the tangible, physical
structures and the less tangible social infrastructure needed by women,
particularly those of low and moderate incomes must be considered. Women's lack
of control over housing design, finance and management and the implications of
this for their well being and that of their children must be understood.
Examination of family structure, legal structure of ownership and access and the
shelter-production process are needed.
2.
Women and Micro Enterprise
A predominant number of working women in the world, particularly in the
developing world, in rural and urban contexts, are engaged in informal sectors
of the economy. Their entrepreneurship in micro-enterprises, both home based and
in the public realm, help sustain families in all social strata, but are
particularly critical to the viability of lower income families. Policies have
been implemented to improve the climate for women's success in
micro-enterprises. These have included promotion of systems to extend
micro-credit to women-owned enterprises, development of banking structures to
facilitate production and job training which is appropriate to their needs for
technical assistance. Research questions relate to: methods to identify
structures which optimally facilitate such enterprise; ways to assess policies
of technical assistance; and an examination of the physical and social
infrastructure needed for success in micro-enterprise and strategies to
facilitate their delivery.
This course is designed
to be useful to students at two stages in their study of gender and its
implications for development. It
will serve to expose those students who are initiating work with a gender
perspective by reviewing current theories about, and discussions on the
rationale for, studying the ramifications of gender for individual and societal
development. It will also serve
students who have completed some discrete research or enquiry on a particular
topic providing a forum in which their ongoing efforts to bring this work to a
comple written form will receive attention and commentary.
This course is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. It is designed for students interested in research and policy related to gender, housing, work and development.
This is a research seminar. Students will participate in shaping the research and discussion environment. A preliminary schedule and reading list are delineated. Additional topic and readings may be included to reflect student interests. Student participants will complete a research based end-of-term paper. Other assignments include:
Adding to class reading
list the literature which is most relevant to their selected research topic
Assigned review of readings. Students will be responsible for reviewing and
presenting to the class selected
readings at
assigned sessions.
Review at two junctures in the term the evolution of ongoing work on research papers and
formal presentation of final paper in class during
the last two sessions.
Each student will be responsible for completing a
20-page original research paper.
Wk. Date
Theme
Topic/Videos/Guests
1 Sept. 10
Introduction
Course Overview/ Topic Videos
2 Sept. 17
Gender and Development
Dandekar Theory Overview
Video/ Potential guest lecture
3 Sept. 24
Women and Housing
Dandekar Theory Overview
Presentation of on-going research
Topics for potential research
4 Oct. 1
Women and Work
Dandekar
Theory Overview
Topics for potential research
Video
5 Oct. 8
Student Reviews of Gender and Development Literature
6 Oct 15
Student Reviews of Women and Housing Literature
7 Oct 22
Student Reviews of Women and Work Literature
8 Oct 29
Research Methods Review
Qualitative,
Quantitative and Visual/Spatial Dandekar
9 Nov. 5
Organization of Writing (Theory/Observation)
Dandekar
10 Nov. 12
Students summary of research
11 Nov. 19
TBD
12 Nov. 26
TBD
13 Dec. 3 Student Presentatons Final Paper Due.