International Organizations and Gender: New Paradigms and Old Habits

Documents the increased attention to gender & women's issues by international organizations during the last quarter of the 20th century, focusing on the UN & the World Bank. It is suggested that the organizational discourses & strategies of these entities with regard to women differ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 2004, Vol.29 (2), p.633-647
Main Author: Bessis, Sophie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bretton Woods system
Consciousness Raising
Development
Development Programs
Economic policy
Females
Feminism
Gender
Gender Discrimination
Gender equality
Gender equity
Gender Issues
Gender roles
Human rights
Information dissemination
International cooperation
International development
International Economic Organizations
International Organizations
Organizational Effectiveness
Organizations
Poverty
Sex
Social Organizations
United Nations
Womens Rights
World Bank
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Summary:Documents the increased attention to gender & women's issues by international organizations during the last quarter of the 20th century, focusing on the UN & the World Bank. It is suggested that the organizational discourses & strategies of these entities with regard to women differ substantially; comparisons are offered of their different theoretical approaches to the notion of gender, their perspectives on women's rights & equality, & the ways that these are manifested in their development policies & programs. The UN has made significant progress in bringing attention to women's issues, particularly in (1) setting international standards, (2) raising awareness of the problem of violence against women, (3) scheduling international conferences that have contributed to the emergence of a global feminist network, & (4) producing & distributing publications on gender & development. Areas where the UN appears ambivalent or not firmly committed to its goals regarding the attainment of female equality are also identified. The World Bank, like other organizations in the Bretton Woods system, has assumed a more economic focus on women in development; benefits & limitations of this approach are outlined. Directions for the future of such organizations in the area of women's rights are also suggested. 10 References. K. Hyatt Stewart
ISSN:0097-9740
1545-6943
DOI:10.1086/379178