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COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 509 C 3 3 0 0 3 7.5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) Dr. Eglantina Farruku efarruku@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Dr. Eglantina Farruku efarruku@epoka.edu.al
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Elective
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations
Classroom and Meeting Time: D-102 at 18:00 pm
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Code of Ethics: Code of Ethics of EPOKA University
Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement: 60%
Course Description: This master level course examines men and women's lives in less developed countries and the impact upon them as a result of development and incorporation into global, economic and political systems. The course begins with theoretical approaches to gender and development, development theory, and feminist critiques. We then turn to how social change (positive or negative development) happens. We will examine in detail issues of production (formal and informal work), reproduction (health, child survival, and fertility), and the family/household nexus (where production and reproduction meet).
Course Objectives: This course explores the interconnections between gender relations and development processes in global and local contexts. It examines how gendered power relations shape economic, political, and social development, and how development policies, practices, and institutions impact women, men, and gender-diverse individuals differently. Using both theoretical and practical lenses, students will analyze gender frameworks and their implementation through policies and programs at the global, national, and local levels.
BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
1 Gender relations shape opportunities, resources, and power within development, calling for gender-responsive analysis and policies.
2 Demography and Gender looks at how patterns in fertility, mortality, and migration intersect with age and household forms to impact development.
3 Reproduction and Family Planning: Concerns reproductive rights, contraception access, maternal health, and social norms in reproductive decision-making.
4 Gender, Health, and Violence examine the links between gender inequality, access to healthcare, and gender-based violence as a barrier to development.
5 Gender and the Environment assess women’s roles in natural resource management and adaptation to climate change.
6 Gender in Rural Development explains the gendered division of labor, land ownership, and participation in agricultural value chains.
7 Gender in Urban Development analyzes how urbanization, the informal economy, and migration reshape gender relations in cities.
8 Globalization and Gendered Economic Change discusses the impact of global trade, neoliberal reforms, and women’s work in the world economy.
9 Policies for Gender Equality review national and international frameworks and their concrete outcomes. Then gaps, current challenges, and transformative approaches for more inclusive policies are identified.
10 Case Studies present theory to regional contexts to understand the factors behind policy success and failure.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Course introduction, expectations, structure - Collaborative exploration of our understanding of gender
2 Introduction to Gender and Development. Introduces the central idea that gender relations shape all aspects of development and must be considered in policy and practice.pp. 1–23
3 Demography and Gender. Explores gendered population dynamics—fertility, mortality, and migration—and how demographic change affects women and men differently. pp. 24–47
4 Reproduction and Family Planning.Examines reproductive rights, health services, and gender roles within family and population policies. pp. 48–83
5 Gender, Health, and Violence.Discusses the links between gender inequality, access to healthcare, and gender-based violence as a development barrier. pp. 84–119
6 Gender and the Environment. Analyzes women’s roles in natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.pp. 120–153
7 Gender in Rural Development. Focuses on gendered divisions of labor, land ownership, and agricultural participation in rural economies.pp. 154–194
8 Gender in Urban Development. Investigates how urbanization, informal labor, and migration reshape gender relations in cities.pp. 195–230
9 Midterm Exam
10 Globalization and Gendered Economic Change.Evaluates how globalization and neoliberal reforms impact women’s work, trade, and economic empowerment.pp. 231–267
11 Policies for Gender Equality: Progress and Challenges (Part I)Reviews national and international policies promoting gender equality and their effectiveness since the 1990s.pp. 268–300
12 Student Presentations and Review
13 Case Studies
14 Final Presentations and Course Wrap-Up
Prerequisite(s): -
Textbook(s): Momsen, Janet Henshall. Gender and Development. 3rd Edition. Routledge, 2020. ISBN 9781138940628.
Additional Literature: Gender and the Sustainable Development Goals: Infrastructure, Empowerment and Education (Skjerven & Fordham, 2022) Taylor & Francis/Routledge. Gender Without Identity (Saketopoulou & Pellegrini, 2024) Publisher: NYU Press. Performance All the Way Down: Genes, Development, and Sexual Difference (Prum, 2023) Los Angeles Review of Books Girls in Global Development: Figurations of Gendered Power (Switzer, Desai & Bent, 2023) Arizona State University Gender and Sexuality Development: Contemporary Theory and Research (Springer, 2020)
Laboratory Work: -
Computer Usage: -
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 Explain major theories and debates related to gender and development.
2 Critically assess gender policies within international and national frameworks.
3 Apply gender analysis tools to evaluate development programs.
4 Understand the intersections of gender with race, class, ethnicity, and sexuality in development processes.
5 Compare gender equality strategies across different regions and institutions.
6 Demonstrate knowledge of global commitments such as CEDAW, SDG 5, and the Beijing Platform for Action.
7 Develop research and presentation skills on gender-related case studies.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations Program
1 Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources. 4
2 Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches. 4
3 Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects. 4
4 Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions. 2
5 Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations. 4
6 Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently. 5
7 Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena. 4
8 Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones. 4
9 Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles. 4
10 Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge. 1
11 Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments. 2
12 Having consciousness about human rights and environment. 4
13 Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning. 4
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)
1
30
Presentation
1
10
Term Paper
1
20
Final Exam
1
40
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 3 48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 7.5 120
Mid-terms 1 8 8
Assignments 0
Final examination 1 11.5 11.5
Other 0
Total Work Load:
187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):
7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
7.5
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

The study of Gender and Development highlights that gender equality is not a peripheral concern but a fundamental pillar of sustainable and inclusive development. Understanding the gendered dynamics of power, access, and representation allows students to critically engage with global development agendas and recognize the persistent inequalities embedded in economic, political, and social systems. Through theory, case studies, and reflection, the course emphasizes empowerment, human rights, and the transformative potential of policy when informed by gender-sensitive analysis. Ultimately, this course seeks to equip students not only with academic knowledge but also with the analytical and ethical tools to advocate for equitable and gender-responsive development practices in their professional and civic engagements.
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