Description: Today, gender equality is widely seen as a critical dimension of democracy. Over the past three decades, the United States and other donor governments have spent millions on aid programs that seek to advance women's equal political participation and leadership around the world. What do these assistance programs consist of, and how effective have they been? In Aiding Empowerment, Saskia Brechenmacher and Katherine Mann take a critical look at this growing field of international aid and policy action. Drawing on research in Kenya, Nepal, Morocco, and Myanmar, they examine the varied methods aid providers use to challenge patriarchal political structures and support local reformers, identify persisting challenges and promising innovations, and make practical recommendations for reform.
Review Quotes: "Aiding empowerment is a valuable resource for social work educators and practitioners, offering insights into the interplay between gender and political empowerment. While it effectively outlines the challenges and opportunities in this field, it also leaves room for further exploration of strategies to combat patriarchal resistance and promote genuine equality in political spaces. The book serves as a critical reminder that achieving gender equality in politics is not merely aboutincreasing numbers but transforming the very structures that perpetuate inequality." -- Lailatul Maulida, Affilia