The Department of Development Studies and the South African Development Studies Association (SADSA) hosted a significant dialogue titled “Revisiting the Dialogue on Women In Development (WID), Women And Development (WAD), and Gender and Development (GAD) in Development Studies” on August 28, 2023, from 14h00 to 15h00 via MS Teams.
Key Themes:
Historical Evolution: The dialogue delved into the evolution of debates surrounding women’s roles and agency in development, transitioning from WID to WAD and GAD.
Critical Examination: Participants were challenged to re-evaluate contemporary understandings of development from the perspectives of women, gender, and sex.
Current Issues: The discussion centered on the progress made in mainstreaming women’s voices and addressing gender issues within development studies.
Presentation Topics:
Gains and Losses:
Speaker: Dr. Seithati Maria Motebang
Topic: Examined the issue of women’s representation and participation in decision-making as essential for development, featuring a case study on local government participation in South Africa’s 2021 elections.
Theoretical Perspectives:
Topic: Explored Afrocentricity, Africana womanism, and Black feminism as theoretical frameworks for constructing women’s identities.
Respondent:
Mrs. Valery Louw
The event aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the critical role women play in development and to address the ongoing challenges they face within both the field of development studies and the broader societal context