Pursuing Third World Women s Interests-Compatibility of Feminism with Grass Roots Development

In the past, development efforts for poor third world women have often failed to bring about relevant changes in the women's lives. This can be attributed, in significant part, to the lack of interest in listening to them. More specifically, the agenda for change is frequently predetermined, on the assumption that women's interests are homogeneous throughout various communities. The grass roots development ideology questions this agenda, looking to satisfy those needs that are expressed by the women themselves. Where such development does not focus explicitly on restructuring unequal gender relations, many feminists disagree with the utility of this methodology for women's empowerment. This paper seeks to address the potential for accommodating feminist concerns with grass roots development ideals, since the benefits of a collaborative relationship are significant for women's development.