The new issue of Oxfam's gender mainstreaming journal 'Gender &
Development' (G&D), is out now. This issue considers the current context of
the increasing influence throughout the world of religious fundamentalisms.
Contributors argue that it is crucial that the nuances of religion and
faith and their relationship with women and development are better
understood. Abstracts of articles appearing in this issue are below, or go
to: http://www.journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=g35w710055h8

Editorial
Kate Greany

The challenges of incorporating Muslim women's views into development
policy: analysis of a Dutch action research project in Yemen
Brenda Bartelink and Marjo Buitelaar
This article discusses the Muslim Women and Development Action Research
Project (MWDAR), an attempt by the Dutch government to introduce new
discourses on Islam and the empowerment of women into their development
policy. Based on a discussion of the project in Yemen, an analysis of its
evaluation reports, and follow-up research with project participants, we
argue that the project did not meet expectations or project goals because
it failed to go beyond an essentialist view of Muslim women. The article
begins with a discussion of Dutch and Yemeni discourses on gender, Islam
and development, and goes on to explore how these discourses ultimately
influenced the project outcomes.

Tackling HIV and AIDS with faith-based communities: learning from attitudes
on gender relations and sexual rights within local evangelical churches in
Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
Mandy Marshall and Nigel Taylor
The AIDS pandemic in Africa is devastating the continent. The institution
of marriage does not appear to be protecting women – in some countries
rates of infection among married women are higher than those among
unmarried, sexually active women. Recognising that unequal gender relations
are a driving force behind the AIDS pandemic, this article explores the
position of local evangelical churches in Africa with respect to gender
relations and sex, and the implications for HIV and AIDS. Based on desk and
field research carried out by the UK-based NGO Tearfund, the findings
indicate that these churches were largely silent on the issue of gender and
sex, or were reinforcing traditional values which contribute to HIV
infection. In a number of countries, the church seems to have failed to
provide leadership to young people, especially young women, facing huge
pressure to be sexually active. Strategies for responding are outlined.

Faith, work, and women in a changing world: the influence of religion in
the lives of beedi rollers in West Bengal
Anchita Ghatak
In India, religious norms and values play a significant role in regulating
the lives of women and girls in many communities. This article looks at how
the lives of women and girl beedi (hand rolled cigarette) rollers in a
Muslim community in West Bengal are influenced by their religious
background, highlighting the complex relationship between gender, faith,
and work. Secondly, the article discusses how secular NGOs – which in India
are often seen to be hesitant in addressing questions of religious faith
and practice – can engage in development work with women and girls in
faith-based communities. The article focuses on the experiences of two
secular NGOs working with women beedi workers in villages in Murshidabad,
as they come to understand that to bring about significant changes in
women's lives they must open up discussions around sensitive religious
belief, within the community and their own organisations.

The Thai bhikkhuni movement and women's empowerment
Emma Tomalin
This paper discusses the recent emergence of a movement in Thailand that
aims to critique and transform patriarchal values supported by the
Theravada Buddhist tradition by introducing female ordination (bhikkhuni
ordination). The paper argues that there is a relationship between the low
status of women in Thai Buddhism and the inferior status of women in Thai
society. The introduction of female leadership roles in Thai Buddhism could
play a role in balancing the gender hierarchies within the tradition as
well as in society more broadly.

For God's sake not for sale: trafficking and the church in Europe
Carrie Pemberton
This article is a case study of a faith-based organisation, the UK-based
NGO CHASTE, working on the issue of sexual trafficking. It highlights
issues that arise as a result of addressing the problem through a
faith-based lens. The article explores the challenges CHASTE faces in its
work, the small but significant achievements that the organisation has
made, and the outlook for the future.

Faith, gender and development agendas in Nigeria: conflicts, challenges,
and opportunities
Oluwafunmilayo Josephine Para-Mallam
Religion is a dominant force in private and public life in most developing
countries. Based on fieldwork in Nigeria, where Christianity and Islam are
the two major religions, this article looks at ways in which religion
interplays with development and gender equality, and what this means for
development policy and practice. First, it explores conflicts and
challenges, looking at how religious and indigenous customary values
converge as powerful influences, affecting all areas of women's lives. The
article goes on to examine the impact of these influences on individual
women's choices and aspirations in the context of Nigerian development
policy on gender equality. Against this backdrop, it highlights
opportunities that can stem from religion, pointing to the ways in which
Nigerian faith-based women's organisations are beginning to use religion as
a basis for challenging male bias and promoting holistic development.

Reflecting on gender equality in Muslim contexts in Oxfam GB
Adrienne Hopkins and Kirit Patel)
Gender inequality, faith and development are intrinsically linked, and the
impact of religious beliefs and practices on gender inequality is an issue
that cannot be ignored in development work. This article summarises the key
discussions and findings of two workshops, held by Oxfam GB, on the
challenges of working on gender equality issues in Muslim contexts. It
explores some of the strategies Oxfam staff have used in their programmes,
and highlights the challenges Oxfam will need to address as it develops
this area of work further.

Resources (Julieanne Porter)

Views, events, and debates (Julieanne Porter)

Book reviews (Julieanne Porter)