Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Development, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations pp 46–71Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Intelligent Design?: A Gender-Sensitive Interrogation of Religion and Development

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

Development policy, in terms of international development cooperation, as well as the operations of multilateral, bilateral and mainstream non-governmental development agencies, has tended to focus on the material and political outcomes of development with little reference to the religious structures and belief systems which shape the life worlds in which the majority of the inhabitants of poor countries live. This bias should not be interpreted to deny, as noted elsewhere in this book, that many individuals and organizations have engaged in development work in line with specific commitments from different religious traditions (Alkire 2006). Faith-based organizations (FBOs), particularly in the poor countries of the global South, have increasingly been working in partnership with donor agencies and international organizations, in response, for instance, to calls for greater local accountability and participation of community-based organizations in the development process. Nor can there be any dispute about the fact that faith traditions continue to exert a strong influence upon the lives of many people in developing countries; or indeed that the desired outcome of development practice and policies, in terms of opportunities and services for poor people to enhance their living standards and their overall well-being, coincides with the objectives of most religious traditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Bibliography

  • Abu Daia, J. M. (2000) ‘Female Circumcision’. Saudi Medical Journal, 21(10), pp. 921–923.

    Google Scholar 

  • ACHR (2006), Appeasing the Mullahs: Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2006 of Pakistan, Asian Centre for Human Rights, http://www.achrweb.org/Review/2006/132-06.htm, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Adamu, F. L. (2004) ‘Household Politics, Women and Shariah Courts in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria’. Peripherie, 24(95), pp. 284–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Afkhami, M. (ed.) (1995) Faith and Freedom: Women’s Human Rights in the Muslim World. London: Tauris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Afkhami, M. and E. Friedl (eds) (1997), Muslim Women and the Politics of Participation: Implementing the Beijing Platform (Gender, Culture & Politics in the Middle East Series). Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Africa Update (1996) Female Circumcision in Africa, 3(2), http://www.ccsu.edu/afstudy/upd3-2.html#Z1, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Afshar, H. (1998) Islam and Feminisms: An Iranian Case Study. Basingstoke: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Alkire, S. (2006) ‘Religion and Development’ In D. A. Clark (ed.) Edgar Companion to Development Studies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 502–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amnesty International (1997) ‘What is female genital mutilation?’ http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGACT770061997, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Baden, Sally and Anne Marie Goetz (1998) ‘Who Needs (Sex) When You Can Have (Gender)? Conflicting Discourses on Gender at Beijing,’ In Cecile Jackson and Ruth Pearson (eds) Feminist Visions of Development: Gender, Analysis and Policy. London: Routledge, pp. 19–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Badran, M. (2002) ‘Islamic Feminism: What’s in a Name?’, Al-Ahram Weekly Online, Issue No. 569, 17–23 January, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/569/cu1.htm, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Bayes, Jane H. and Nayreheh Tohidi (eds) (2001) Globalization, Gender, and Religion. The Politics of Women’s Rights in Catholic and Muslim Contexts. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baylies, C. and Bujra, J. (2000) AIDS, Sexuality and Gender in Africa; the Struggle Continues; Collective Strategies for Protection Against AIDS in Tanzania and Zambia. Routledge: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedek, W. Esther Kisaakye, and Gerd Oberlietner, (eds) (2002) The Human Rights of Women: International Instruments and African Experiences. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilkisu, H. (2002) The Veil and Male Chauvinists (www.africasource.com/content/view/42/68, accessed 21 August 2007.).

  • Boseley, S. and Goldenberg, S. (2005) ‘Brazil Spurns US Terms for Aids Help’, Guardian, 4 May, http://www.guardian.co.uk/brazil/story/0,12462,1475966,00.html, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Caldwell, J. C., Orubuloye, I. O. and Caldwell, P. (1997) ‘Male and Female Circumcision in Africa from a Regional to a Specific Nigerian Examination’. Social Science and Medicine, 44(8), pp. 1181–1193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Reproductive Rights Factsheet (2003): ‘The Global Gag Rule’s Effects on NGOs in 56 Countries’, www.reproductiverights.org/pub_fac_ggreffects.html, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Clarke, G. (2006) ‘Faith Matters: Faith-Based Organisations, Civil Society and International Development’. Journal of International Development, 18(6), pp. 835–848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, G. (2007) ‘Agents of Transformation? Donors, Faith-Based Organisations and International Development’. Third World Quarterly, 28(1), pp. 77–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. (2001) ‘Global Gag Rule: Exporting Antiabortion Ideology at the Expense of American values’. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, 4(3) http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/04/3/gr040301.html, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Crane, B. B. and Dusenberry, J. (2004) ‘Power and Politics in International Funding for Reproductive Health: The US Global Gag Rule’. Reproductive Health Matters, 12(24), pp. 128–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dao, J. (2002) ‘Over U.S. Protest, Asian Group Approves Family Planning Goals’. New York Times, 18 December, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D02EFD7153DF93BA25751C1A9649C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FA%2FAbortion, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Dorkenoo, E. (1995) Cutting the Rose — Female Genital Mutilation: The Practice and Its Prevention. Minority Rights Group. London: Minority Rights Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorkenoo, E. and S. Elworthy (1992) Female Genital Mutilation, proposals for change. London: Minority Rights Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editoral (2006) ‘HIV Prevention Policy Needs an Urgent Cure’. The Lancet, 367(9518), 15–21 April, p. 1213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Gibaly, O., Ibrahim, B., Mensch, B. S. and Clark, W. H. (2002) ‘The Decline of Female Circumcision in Egypt: Evidence and Interpretation’. Social Science and Medicine, 54(2), pp. 205–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elson, D. (2004) ‘Feminist Economics Challenges Mainstream Economics’ In Special issue of the Newsletter of the International Association for Feminist Economics, Bina Agarwal (ed.), 14(3), pp. 6–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley, R. (2004) ‘Muslim Women’s Challenges to Islamic Law: The Case of Malaysia’. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 6(1), pp. 53–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill, P. (2006) ‘BBC Backs Off from Bush in Africa’, The Guardian, 23 January, http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,1692457,00.html

  • Hadi, S. (2003) ‘Women’s Rights in Pakistan: A Forensic Perspective’. Medicine, Science and the Law, 43(2), pp. 148–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heyzer, N. (2005) ‘Making the links: Women’s Rights and Empowerment are Key to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals’. Gender and Development, 13(1), March, pp. 9–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, E. (1996) Infibulation: Female Mutilation in Islamic Northeastern Africa. New Brunswick; London: Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • IRIN News (Integrated Regional Information Networks) (2006) Pakistan: Over a Thousand Women Freed Under Change in Law, 7 October, http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/3790/1/196/

  • Jahangir, A. and Hina J. (1988) The Hadood Ordinances: A Divine Sanction. Lahore: Rhotac Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamal. A. (2005a) ‘Feminist’ selves’ and Feminism’s ‘Others’: Feminist Representations of Jamaat-e-Islami Women in Pakistan’. Feminist Review, 81(1), pp. 52–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamal, A. (2005b) ‘Transnational Feminism as Critical Practice. A Reading of Feminist Discourses in Pakistan’. Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, 5(2), pp 57–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeenah, N. (2004) Muslim Women Cultures and Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa, http://naeemjeenah.shams.za.org/Muslim%20women%20cultures%20and%20movements.pdf

  • Justitia et Pax Netherlands (2005) Act Now for Millennium Development Goals — Appeals from Religious Leaders and Scholars, http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/atf/cf/D15FF017-0467-419B-823E-D6659E0CCD39/faith_justiciapax_manual.pdf

  • Kalu, O. U. (2003) ‘Safiyya and Adamah: Punishing Adultery with Sharia Stones in Twenty-First-Century Nigeria’. African Affairs, 102(408), pp. 389–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kantor, L. (1994) Attacks on Public School Sexuality Education Programs: 1993–1994 school year. SIECUS Report. 21: 11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, E. and Hillard P. J. A. (2005) ‘Female Genital Mutilation’. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 17(5), pp. 490–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, S. (2003) ‘Zina and the Moral Regulation of Pakistani Women’. Feminist Review, 75(1), pp. 75–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klouman, E., Manongi, R. and Klepp, K. I. (2005) ‘Self-reported and Observed Female Genital Cutting in Rural Tanzania: Associated Demographic Factors, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections’. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 10(1), pp. 105–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, D. (2005) ‘More HIV Funds to Promote Abstinence: Researchers Call Policy Misguided’, Balitmore Sun, 10 December, http://www.actupny.org/reports/bush_abstinencefunding.html

  • Llana, S. M. (2006) ‘Evangelicals Flex Growing Clout in Nicaragua’s Election’ Christian Science Monitor, 2 November, (http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=23241&sec=57&cont=all)

  • Lobe, J. (2005) ‘Bush Denies UNFPA Grant for Fourth Year’, People and Planet, 28 September, http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2542.

  • Marriott, A. and Townsend, C. (eds) (no date) Gender and HIV/AIDS, Dossier, Bridge, http://www.eldis.org/gender/dossiers/index.htm

  • Miles, W. F. S. (2003) ‘Shari’a as De-Africanization: Evidence from Hausaland’. Africa Today, 50(1), pp. 51–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mir-Hosseini, Z. (2000) Islam and Gender: The Religious Debate in Contemporary Iran. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. (2002) ‘Islamic Feminism and Its Discontents: Toward a Resolution of the Debate’. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 27(4) (Summer), pp. 1135–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moghissi, H. (2000) Feminism and Islamic Fundamentalism: The Limits of Postmodern Analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molyneux, M. and Ravazi, S. (2006) Beijing Plus 10: An Ambivalent Record on Gender Justice. NRSID Occassional Paper 15. www.unrisd.org/UNRISD/website/document.nsf/ab82a6805797760f80256b4f005da1ab/4ee168779e57e924c12571ca003c2295/$FILE/opgp10.pdf

  • Mullally, S. (2005) ‘As Nearly as May Be: Debating Women’s Human Rights in Pakistan’. Social and Legal Studies, 14(3), pp. 341–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumtaz, K. and Farida S. (1987) Women of Pakistan: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? London: Zed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muslim Women’s League (1999) Position Paper on Female Genital Mutilation/Female Circumcision, pp. 1–5. www.mwlusa.org/pub_fgm.html

  • Pearson, R. (2005) ‘The Rise and Rise of Gender and Development’ In Uma Kothari (ed), A Radical History of Development Studies. Capetown; London: Zed Press, pp. 157–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rafiq, S. (2004) Justice and Equality for Women, www.onlinenews.com.pk/articledetails.php?id=52986, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Rehman, S. (2006) Women’s Legislation: Gap between Musharraf Regime’s Promises and Action, 2 September, Pakistan Peoples Party, www.ppp.org.pk/Party/Party%20Issues/P_articles48.html, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Religions for Peace (2005) Faith in Action: Working Towards the Millennium Development Goals (an Action Toolkit for Religious Leaders and Communities)www.millenniumcampaign.org/atf/cf/D15FF017-0467-419B-823E-D6659E0CCD39/FINAL%20ENGLISH%20AFRICAN%20RFP%20MDG%20TOOLKIT.PDF, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Religions for Peace (2006) Empowering Women as Agents of Social Change, report April 1st 2005 through March 31st 2006, www.wcrp.org/files/AR-WomensProgram-2006.pdf, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Robinson, B. A. (1998) Female Genital Mutilation (Female Circumcision) in Africa, the Middle East and Far East, www.religioustolerance.org/fem_cirm.htm

  • Rose, S. (2005) ‘Going too Far? Sex, Sin and Social Policy’. Social Forces, 84(2), pp. 1207–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sleboda, J. (2001) ‘Islam and Women’s Rights Advocacy in Malaysia’. Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, 7(2), pp. 94–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallis, V. (2002) GENDER and HIV/AIDS Overview Report, Bridge, http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/reports/cep-hiv-report.pdf, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Teaching Fear (1996) The Religious Right’s Campaign Against Sexuality Education, People for the American Way, http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=2012, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Thomas, S. (2005) The Global Resurgence of Religion and the Transformation of International Relations. London; New York: PalgraveMacmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2006) AIDS Epidemic Update, http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/2006_EpiUpdate_en.pdf, accessed 21 August 2007.

  • Wiggins, D. (2001) ‘Islamic Texts and Circumcision’, Africa Update. 8(4), http://www.ccsu.edu/AFSTUDY/upd8-4.htm#Islamic, accessed 21 August 2007.

Download references

Authors
  1. Ruth Pearson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emma Tomalin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of the Environment and the Society, Swansea University, UK

    Gerard Clarke

  2. School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK

    Michael Jennings

Copyright information

© 2008 Ruth Pearson and Emma Tomalin

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pearson, R., Tomalin, E. (2008). Intelligent Design?: A Gender-Sensitive Interrogation of Religion and Development. In: Clarke, G., Jennings, M. (eds) Development, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230371262_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation