Issue 9: Why Economic Development Doesn’t Equal Women’s Empowerment

The link between economic growth and women’s empowerment isn’t as direct as it seems. While development can create opportunities, unpaid labor, policy gaps & cultural barriers still hold women back.

If you’ve been following along, you might have noticed a recurring theme in my recent posts: women. That’s no coincidence. March is Women’s History Month, but more than that, the development, empowerment, and well-being of women have always been at the heart of what I care about. I love unpacking the intricate—and often overlooked—ways societal forces shape women's autonomy, for better or worse.

In case you missed the last few issues: two weeks ago, in Issue 7: Why a Fight for Climate Justice Is Also a Fight for Girls' Rights, I explored how climate change exacerbates child marriage. And last week, in Issue 8: Closet Confessions: How Tofe and Yasmin (Re)Define Personal Style, we discussed everything from the cultural influences on fashion to sustainable shopping and the movement to "shop Nigeria to grow the naira." (which was quite popular, I have to say)!

So, as we continue celebrating Women’s History Month, this post stays on theme. I’m revisiting an essay I wrote over a year ago that tackles a bold question: “Does economic development automatically lead to women’s empowerment?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems, and even now, I find the discussion as relevant as ever. This week’s post leans a bit more academic, but I hope you enjoy the read!

Introduction

The assertion that 'economic development leads to women's empowerment' oversimplifies the connection between economic development and women's empowerment; this relationship is intricate, multifaceted, and nuanced. While economic development can be crucial in enhancing women's empowerment, it is essential to underscore that this relationship is not consistently linear but contingent on various factors with inherent limitations and challenges. Consequently, this essay draws upon insights from diverse scholars to underscore that while economic development can contribute to women's empowerment, it is not the exclusive driver of this objective. this essay will also highlight the significance of adopting Sen's capability approach and caution against a narrow focus solely on economic development. Lastly, it will explore the notion that embracing an approach that recognises diversity and utilising Sen's capability approach encourages examining ideas through an intersectional lens, promoting a comprehensive enhancement of women's autonomy.

Photo sourced from UN Women’s website

Unpacking the Nuances of Economic Development and Women’s Empowerment

In alignment with Sen's perspective, the development concept should be viewed as expanding human freedoms. Sen contends that economic development ought to be perceived as a tool to achieve the overarching goal of development rather than the sole contributor (Sen, 1999). Scholars Nila Kabeer and Esther Duflo draw upon Sen's framework, particularly when examining the correlation between economic development and women's empowerment. Despite their differing approaches, both scholars concur that a comprehensive understanding of gender equality involves considering well-being, rights, and political participation (Kabeer, 2015).

From Duflo's standpoint, she characterises the relationship between economic development and women's empowerment as bidirectional. In her interpretation, this relationship entails the augmentation of women's ability to access various development components, including health, education, earning opportunities, rights, and political participation (Duflo, 2012). However, Duflo presents a somewhat simplified perspective, asserting that economic development leads to women's empowerment and vice versa. She posits that economic growth diminishes gender inequality, contending that reduced poverty enhances women's overall well-being and circumstances. Additionally, she argues that increased female participation contributes to economic growth, improves child health and education, and fosters a more equitable society (Duflo, 2012), citing evidence from randomised control trials conducted in India to support these claims.

While Duflo offers a simplified and uniform approach to economic development and women's empowerment, neglecting cultural sensitivity and overlooking intersectionality by predominantly focusing on gender, she critically acknowledges that "economic development alone will not be enough to bring about equality between women and men in the foreseeable future" (Duflo, 2012).

In contrast, Cook and Kabeer present a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between economic development and women's empowerment. They stress the nuanced nature of this relationship and draw from Kabeer's previous research, asserting that gender equality in employment and education contributes to economic growth. However, this dynamic only holds uniformly for low- and middle-income countries, where economic growth does not automatically translate into greater equality in literacy, education, and various health indicators (Cook & Kabeer, 2023). Criticising Duflo's "randomista" approach, Kabeer argues that Duflo's views align with those advocating for a one-size-fits-all approach as a more effective path to women's empowerment compared to specific policies targeting women's empowerment, which they believe would lead to development (Kabeer, 2020). Duflo's perspective, in explaining this complex relationship, disregards Sen's 'capability approach,' which emphasises that development is not a universally applicable approach. According to Sen's idea, standardising policy approaches for women's empowerment overlooks the unique historical, cultural, social, and intersectional limitations. These factors challenge the notion that economic development alone leads to women's empowerment, highlighting the importance of considering various factors in promoting women's empowerment.

Limitations and challenges

Images of African sourced from Google

Concentrating solely on economic development disregards crucial facets of empowerment, including agency, control over resources, and political participation. Achieving gender equality necessitates addressing these broad dimensions that impede women's autonomy, in addition to pursuing economic advancements. This perspective underscores the presence of persistent inequalities constraining women's autonomy and exacerbating existing gender disparities. Economic development alone proves insufficient as it fails to challenge or modify deeply ingrained societal norms dictating women's roles.

For instance, Kabeer illustrates that women face underrepresentation in capital- intensive industries like mining and petroleum-related production, perpetuating gender inequalities. Oil-based economies heavily rely on male labour forces and encounter limited incentives to diversify into sectors that could benefit women, constrained by prevailing male breadwinner ideologies and restrictions on women's mobility across regions (Kabeer, 2015).

Building on Ester Boserup's insights, she highlights how industrialisation and economic development contribute to the erosion of female farming systems in the transition from shifting cultivation to ploughing permanent fields, resulting in men taking over women's roles in farming (Boseroup, 1970). This shift impedes women's participation in the economic sphere and curtails their autonomy.

Moreover, economic development fosters precarious employment for women, such as low-wage or informal work with limited rights and benefits. Kabeer notes widespread legal discrimination in property distribution across 114 countries, coupled with constraints on women's mobility and entrepreneurship without male consent, significantly restricting women's agency (Kabeer, 2015). This underscores the need to explore beyond economic development to restore women's agency, recognising its potential hindrances.

To further underscore the disempowering impact of economic development on women, Kabeer highlights that India's high economic growth rates coincide with a decline in women's labour force participation (Kabeer, 2020). Despite urban areas showing stagnant female participation rates, women disproportionately shoulder unpaid household and care work, reinforcing deeply entrenched gender norms that impede women's empowerment (Cook & Kabeer, 2023).

In essence, these examples reveal that economic progress alone is insufficient to dismantle deeply rooted patriarchal norms hindering women's empowerment. Historical structures and ingrained gender inequalities persist, limiting women's productive potential and safeguarding male privilege even amidst economic advancements.

Importance of Intersectionality and True Empowerment: A Call to Action

Images sourced from Google

Instead of subscribing to the notion that women's empowerment is a direct result of economic development, analyses of gender and development should delve into the intersections with other identity factors to comprehend the diverse experiences of women. Mcall underscores the importance of intersectionality in understanding social inequalities and power dynamics (Mcall, 2005). This perspective underlines that efforts to support women's empowerment must consider factors such as race, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and physical and mental abilities.

Moreover, moving beyond the simplistic concept that economic growth inherently leads to women's empowerment is imperative. True empowerment requires expanding women's capabilities, agency, and participation, incorporating the insights of Sen's Capability approach. Critically challenging the political, economic, and social structures and norms restricting women's empowerment becomes essential. Echoing Boserup's stance, it is crucial to contest the prevailing assumption that women are passive participants in economic activities; instead, they are active agents significantly contributing to the economic well-being of their families and communities (Boserup, 1970). Most importantly, there is a need to recognise and value care work, acknowledging its crucial role in economic and social well-being as essential for women's empowerment.

As advocated by James Heintz et al., our understanding of the economy should shift from a narrow focus on market production to one based on social provisioning, the processes and practices that sustain and enhance life (Heintz, Staab, S. & Turquet, 2021). Lastly, a focused approach to intersecting gender and development policies is essential to promote women's agency.

Conclusion

To sum up what i’ve stated thus far, the connection between economic development and women's empowerment is intricate. While economic development can function as a tool for women's empowerment, it does not represent the ultimate goal of development (Sen, 1999). Viewing economic growth as the sole determinant of women's empowerment overlooks the significance of Sen's capability approach. To truly empower women, it is essential to comprehend the challenges they face due to patriarchal, intersecting, and social constraints. Consequently, a comprehensive and intersecting approach is necessary to achieve empowerment for all women.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, do you think economic development alone is enough to drive women’s empowerment, or is there more to the equation? Let’s keep the conversation going.

Thank you for reading, and for being part of this space where we unpack the nuances of the world together. I’ll be back next week with another piece, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Until then, take care! 💛🥐