Girls in Global Development: Figurations of Gendered Power

Scholars have critiqued the neocolonial assumptions embedded in global development agendas, focusing on the bodies and lives of poor, racialized adolescent girls in the global south as ideal sites for intervention. Girls in Global Development presents case studies from established and emerging scholars to theorize and examine the concept of "Girls in Development" (GID) through a critical feminist lens.

Format: Hardback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2023
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Many scholars have raised concerns about the neocolonial assumptions underlying global development agendas, which often prioritize the bodies and lives of poor, racialized adolescent girls in the global south as ideal targets for intervention. These agendas are driven by the belief that these girls possess the potential to generate significant investment returns, break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, and contribute to economic growth.

Girls in Global Development offers a comprehensive exploration of the concept of "Girls in Development" (GID), a unique approach to understanding girls and girlhoods in various parts of the world at different historical junctures through a critical feminist lens. The book brings together case studies from established and emerging scholars who critically analyze the ways in which GID has been conceptualized, implemented, and challenged.

Through their research, the scholars in Girls in Global Development shed light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which girls are positioned within development agendas. They challenge the dominant narratives that often portray girls as passive recipients of aid and intervention, instead highlighting their agency, resilience, and capacity to shape their own lives and futures. The book explores the various factors that contribute to girls' marginalization and oppression, including poverty, gender inequality, discrimination, and violence.

At the same time, it also highlights the ways in which girls can be agents of change and transformation. By examining the experiences of girls in different contexts, the book demonstrates the importance of intersectionality in understanding their experiences and the challenges they face. It emphasizes the need to address the interrelated issues of gender, race, class, and sexuality in order to create more equitable and just societies.

Girls in Global Development offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of girls' lives and the role that they play in shaping the world around them. It provides a critical feminist framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities that girls face in developing countries and beyond. The book is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and activists who are committed to promoting girls' rights and empowerment.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805391777