An original feature is the investigation of how supposedly genderneutral theories and policies are biased against women, covering
agricultural reform in China and Zimbabwe, the informal sector in
Nigeria and Peru, industrialisation in Mexico, and structural
adjustment policies in a wide range of developing countries.
Drawing on anthropology, economics and sociology, this book is
addressed to a wide audience of undergraduates, graduates,
researchers and policy makers.

This is not another book about women in development. Books
about women in development have been a necessary stage in making
gender relations visible in the development process, but posing the
issue in terms of women in development has several limitations. It
facilitates the view that ‘women’, as a general category, can be added
to an existing approach to analysis and policy, and that this will be
sufficient to change development outcomes so as to improve
women’s position. It facilitates the view that ‘women’s issues’ can
be tackled in isolation from women’s relation to men. It may even
give rise to the feeling that the problem is women rather than the
disadvantages women face; and that women are unreasonably
asking for special treatment rather than for redress for injustices
and for removal of distortions which limit their capacities. It
tends to encourage the treatment of women as a homogeneous group
with the same interests and viewpoint everywhere. It is necessary
to move on from ‘women in development’ to approaches that
emphasise gender relations.