Teaching development economics from a gender perspective

Abstract

An undergraduate course in development economics presents an ideal opportunity to introduce students to the importance of gender differences in economic outcomes. The authors of this article argue that a systematic integration of gender into development economics courses based on standard textbooks is feasible and desirable. They provide a gendered narrative of how to engender a development economics course in the Global North using as examples topics that are commonly taught and show how gender-aware scholarly articles, classroom activities, and assignments can complement a course based on a standard textbook or set of articles. They engender three main sections of a prototype development economics course: meanings and measures of economic development; strategies for economic development; and salient issues in development; and they add a forward-looking section on creating equitable development.

Keywords:

• Curriculum
• development economics
• gender
• history of thought
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jacqueline Strenio, Amitava Dutt, Omar Dahi, KimMarie McGoldrick, and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions.

Notes

1 The online appendix is available at: https://figshare.com/articles/online_resource/Online_Appendix_for_Teaching_Development_Economics_from_a_Gender_Perspective_/16992607.