Refocusing gender equality on gender justice: a critique of the politics of gender equality interpretation in the field of international development assistance

‘Refocusing Gender Equality on Gender Justice: A Critique of the Politics of Gender Equality Interpretation in the Field of International Development Assistance’ is a critical analysis of the interpretation of gender equality in the field of EDA. The vari­ous interpretations examined are extracted from key spheres composing the field of IDA, such as the theory, international legislation and international policy, donor and national policy and the programme sphere at field level. These reveal the prevalence of certain underpinning ideological perspectives and the absence of others. The thesis discusses the significance and implication of using hegemonic identity politics per­spectives including Third Worldist, anti-essentialist, difference, cultural relativist and postcolonialist perspectives in the interpretation of gender equality in IDA. One of the key implications discussed is the eclipse of other relevant focuses such as redis­tribution, the universality of gender inequalities and violations of women’s human rights. The thesis demonstrates that such eclipses form a recurrent pattern and have had consequences in the practice of IDA and its response and impact at programme level in terms of effectively addressing inequalities and injustices facing women. The research ultimately draws key orientations to refocus gender equality, beyond the politics of identity, towards gender justice in the field of IDA.