Preface

Abstract

Extract The main objective of this volume has been the analysis of interrelations between patriarchy and the development process. Fundamental questions have been raised by the authors. What has been the effect of the development process on gender relations? Did the patriarchal structure of the societies reproduce existing inequalities, resulting in further deterioration in the social position of women? Could the social struggles and the institutional changes moderate, or even eliminate, certain traditional characteristics of the societies influencing gender relations? These links between patriarchy and development have not been previously studied, documented, discussed, and analysed, in such a systematic way. Nor have they been treated in the comparative and multi-dimensional perspective offered by this volume. As is well known, patriarchy, the concept of which has been widely used in literature, has a narrower and a broader meaning. In its narrower sense, it is the rule by the father within the family and the consequent subordination of both his wife and children. In the broader concept, patriarchy is used as a term for characterizing the society which is dominated by men, within the family and outside. It characterizes a society that reproduces male dominance in all areas of its life, in education, work, and in its socio-political institutions. The authors of this volume—internationally recognized experts in gender and development studies—offer an interesting combination of theoretical, historical, and empirical approaches from different parts of the world, including the Nordic welfare states, and the former socialist countries (the transition economies). They focus, however, on the problems of the developing countries. In certain parts of the developing world patriarchy has changed very little, and still assumes cruel forms. The studies in this volume prove not only that the functioning of patriarchal societies has varied significantly over time, and in different paits of the world depending on the cultures and the socio-economic formations, but they also reveal the great differences which exist between certain countries and regions at the end of the twentieth century. The trajectories of patriarchy and development have not been linear, but have had different impacts on the various groups of the societies. They point, however, to the main similarities from the perspectives of the issues raised, that in spite of the improvements in the social and economic position of women, some of the fundamental characteristics of the patriarchal societies have a major influence on the possibilities for full participation in, and on the outcomes of, the development process.