Representation of Women by Dutch Development Organizations

Abstract

In this paper I investigated how women are currently represented by three Dutch development organizations. Are women represented as powerful and strong or more as oppressed and underprivileged? The three organizations are Hivos, Oxfam Novib, and Cordaid. I have analyzed the annual reports of 2010 to investigate the representation of women. Development organizations still at times describe women as a subordinate group that need extra attention from them or local organizations. In addition, they also represent women as learning subjects and as active agents that have the skills and the knowledge to participate in trainings with the intention to change their position in economical, social and political processes. Education is clearly linked to the empowerment of women. One critical point in connection to these trainings is the accessibility. Are these programs accessible for all women or do different markers of difference such as age, class and ethnicity influence the participation? The representation of women within the field of development aid is steadily changing but unfortunately the men are still presented as the invisible norm that women have to reach.