PLD1108 — Gender and Development | Chương trình đào tạo NEU
PLD1108 — Gender and Development
Credits
3
Self-study hours
90
Showing intake
K68-2026
Course description
This course examines poverty, livelihoods, and international development through a gendered lens, with a strong emphasis on power relations and intersectionality. It integrates theoretical perspectives and practical approaches to analyze how gender shapes development processes and outcomes. The course critically assesses donor-led development interventions while exploring grassroots, community-based, and policy-level strategies for advancing gender equity. Through problem-based learning and real-world case studies, students apply gender analysis frameworks to key development challenges. The course also investigates how systems of power – including patriarchy, colonial legacies, and neoliberal economic structures – intersect to influence social justice, inclusion, and development trajectories.
- Introduction to Gender and Development: definitions, theory, history of gender in development
- Gender & Intersectionality
- Gender, politics & the state
- Gender, Work, and the Global Economy
- Gendered immigration
- Women Organizing for Change: Local and Global Efforts
- Movements for other marginalized groups
- Addressing gender and social exclusion issues
Course requirements
Requirements for Final Examination
Attendance score must be at least 5 (according to University regulations).
Final Exam is an open-book exam. So, students can use notes, books or other paper materials (materials must not contain answers or instructions for the questions, etc…, including but not limited to mock-test, etc.) without the use of any electronic devices.
Requirements for Class Attendance
Class participation points will be based on general class attendance, contribution in class and compliance with the class rules clarified below
Poor class attendance, little contribution in class or non-compliance with class rules will result in a poor class participation grade.
Requirements for In-class Behaviour
Be punctual! Late attendance may be counted as absence
Come prepared – read the documents assigned
Turn off cell phones during the session
Do not engage in individual discussions
No food allowed
Be polite and professional
No tolerance for academic cheating
Lecturers
Dr. Nguyen Van Dai
Dr. Nguyen Quynh Hoa
Teaching plan
Week 1
Lecture 1. Introduction to Gender and Development
1.1 Concepts and definitions of sex, gender, and development
1.2 Major theories in Gender and Development (WID, WAD, GAD)
1.3 Historical evolution of gender in development thinking
1.4 Gender roles and power relations in development contexts
References
[1], [3]
Activities
Lecturer: Introduce syllabus, textbooks, references, software, slides; Deliver theory lectures; Guide reading; Require review of prerequisite courses; Require preview of examples, questions, exercises for lecture 1.
Students: Review syllabus, read assigned materials, revise prerequisites.
Week 2
Lecture 2. Gender & Intersectionality
2.1 Meaning and origins of intersectionality
2.2 Intersections of gender with class, race, caste, ethnicity, and sexuality
2.3 Power, privilege, and multiple forms of discrimination
References
[2], [4], [5]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 2 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 3
Lecture 3. Gender, Politics & the State
3.1 Gender and political participation
3.2 Representation of women in governance
3.3 State policies and legal frameworks on gender equality
3.4 Feminist critiques of the state and public institutions
References
[6], [7]
Activities
Learning resources
1. Course Books
. The women — Visvanathan, N.; Duggan, L.; Wiegersma, N. & Nisonoff L., gender and development reader, 2011
. The Palgrave handbook of gender and development: Critical engagements in feminist theory and practice. Springer — Harcourt, W. (Ed.)., 2016
2. References
Delphy, C. (1993, January). Rethinking sex and gender. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-9). Pergamon
. Mapping the margins: Intersectionality — Crenshaw, K. W., identity politics, 2013
. The rise and decline of the male breadwinner family? An overview of the debate. International Review of Social History — Janssens, A., 42(S5), 1997
. Feminists theorize the state. Springer — Kantola, J., 2006
. States as gender equality activists: The evolution of quota laws in Latin America. Latin American politics and society — Piscopo, J. M., 57(3), 2015
Schneider, Friedrich. 2016. “Outside the State: The Shadow Economy and Shadow Economy Labour Force.” In The Palgrave Handbook of International Development, edited by Jean Grugel and Daniel Hammett, 185–204. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-42724-3_11
Waring, Marilyn. 2019. “The Unpaid Work That GDP Ignores and Why it Reall Counts.” TEDX. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrnZMrjsf6w
Sarah Bradshaw, Sylvia Chant & Brian Linneker. 2019. Challenges and Changes in Gendered Poverty: The Feminization, De-Feminization, and Re-Feminization of Poverty in Latin America, Feminist Economics, 25:1, 119-144
. The women — Chapter 5: Visvanathan, N.; Duggan, L.; Wiegersma, N. & Nisonoff L., gender and development reader, 2011
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 3 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 4
Lecture 4. Gender, Work, and the Global Economy
4.1 Gendered Division of Labor
4.2 Women in the Formal Labor Market
4.3 Informal Sector, Unpaid Work, and Precarity
References
[8], [9], [10], [11], [12]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 4 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 5
Seminar 1: Critiques and debates regarding paid and unpaid work
References
[9] [31]
Activities
Lecturer: moderation
Students are advised to watch some documentaries [9] and [31]. Watching [31] should be done at home. Then, students will get involved in the debate.
Assessment
Attendance and critical thoughts
Week 6
Lecture 5. Gendered Immigration
5.1 Gender dimensions of migration and mobility
5.2 Women migrant workers and global care chains
5.3 Vulnerabilities: exploitation, trafficking, and legal status
5.4 Transnational families and remittances
References
[13], [14], [15]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 5 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 7
Seminar 2: Critiques and debates in gender issues in immigration
References
[32]
Activities
Lecturer: Moderation
Students are advised to watch some documentary [32] in the class. Then, students will get involved in the debate.
Assessment
Attendance and critical thoughts
Week 8
Lecture 6. Women Organizing for Change: Local and Global Efforts
6.1 Grassroots women’s movements
6.2 National and regional women’s organizations
6.3 Global feminist networks and advocacy
References
[16, [17], [18], [19], [20], [21]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 6 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 9
Lecture 7. Movements for Other Marginalized Groups
7.1 LGBTQIA+ movements and gender justice
7.2 Indigenous, ethnic, and racial minority movements
7.3 Disability rights and inclusive activism
References
[22], [23], [24], [30]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials and watch a documentary [30] in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 7 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 10
Lecture 8. Addressing Gender and Social Exclusion Issues
8.1 Concepts of social exclusion and inclusion
8.2 Gender-responsive policies and programs
8.3 Role of NGOs, governments, and international agencies
References
[25], [26], [27], [28]
Activities
Lecturer: Lecturing
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions in lecture 8 slides, participate in group and plenary discussions.
Week 11
Seminar 3: Debate on social exclusion of marginalized groups
References
[29]
Activities
Lecturer: Moderation
Students are advised to watch some documentary [29] in the class. Then, students will get involved in the debate.
Assessment
Attendance and critical thoughts
Week 12
Midterm Assessment
Reading
Activities
Lecturer: moderation role
Students: Read materials in advance, attend roll call, answer questions for case study analysis. The students get ready for midterm test 1 (60 minutes).
Assessment
Essay
Week 13
Lecture 13
Activities
Lecturer: moderation role
Students: Presentation, feedback and answer
Assessment
Group presentation
Week 14
Lecture 14
Activities
Lecturer: moderation role
Students: Presentation, feedback and answer
Assessment
Group presentation
Week 15
Lecture 15: Wrap-up and Q&A
Activities
Lecturer: wrap-up and rehearsal
Students: Q&A
Final Examination (Entire content)
Activities
See Appendix 1 (Exam Matrix)
Assessment
Essay exam
. The women — Chapter 16, 17, 22, 25, 26: Visvanathan, N.; Duggan, L.; Wiegersma, N. & Nisonoff L., gender and development reader, 2011
. The women — Chapter 24, 26; Visvanathan, N.; Duggan, L.; Wiegersma, N. & Nisonoff L., gender and development reader, 2011
. A glass half full? Gender in migration studies. International migration review — Donato, K. M., Gabaccia, D., Holdaway, J., Manalansan IV, M., & Pessar, P. R., 40(1), 2006
. Gender dimensions of international migration. Global migration perspectives — Carling, J., 35(1), 2005
. The civic origins of progressive policy change: Combating violence against women in global perspective — Htun, M., & Weldon, S. L., 1975–2005. American Political Science Review, 2012
. Feminist mobilization and the abortion debate in Latin America: Lessons from Argentina. Politics & Gender — Daby, M., & Moseley, M. W., 18(2), 2022
. The Palgrave handbook of gender and development: Critical engagements in feminist theory and practice. Springer — Section IX Visions, Hopes, Futures: Harcourt, W. (Ed.)., 2016
. What about the grassroots leaders? A model for culturally appropriate leadership through empowering local women. In Leadership and power in international development: Navigating the intersections of gender — Spear, A. M., culture, 2018
Nikki Sanchez. 2019. “Decolonization Is for Everyone” TEDxSFU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP9x1NnCWNY
Cahen-Salvador, Colombe. 2020. “A global movement to solve global problems” TED2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6mknkg7MEc&t=2s
. Backgrounder: Thinking about marginalization: What — Jenson, J., who and why?. Ottawa: Canadian Policy Research Networks, 2000
. Globalization — Carr, M., & Chen, M., social exclusion and gender. Int'l Lab. Rev, 2004
. Social exclusion: towards an analytical and operational framework. Development and change — Bhalla, A., & Lapeyre, F., 28(3), 1997
. Gender Responsive Budgeting: A tool for gender equality. Critical Perspectives on Accounting — Khalifa, R., & Scarparo, S., 79, 2021
. Promoting gender equality: A systematic review of interventions. Social Justice Research — Guthridge, M., Kirkman, M., Penovic, T., & Giummarra, M. J., 35(3), 2022
. Institutions for gender equality. In World public sector report 2019: Sustainable development goal 16-Focus on public institutions (Chap. 5). United Nations. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3822939 — United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs., 2019
. Social exclusion: towards an analytical and operational framework. Development and change — Bhalla, A., & Lapeyre, F., 28(3), 1997
Born Into Brothels 2004 [Oscar winning documentary]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kyXFr2g1x8
Transgender in Pakistan|DW Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA9BwA4uO1o
BẢY NGÀY LÀM VỢ/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKnYT2Wdkns and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyilHb-tCJo
Women Crossing Borders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCg1XVnIHiw
3. Other resources available at the University Library