Development, Religion, and Women’s Roles in Contemporary Societies
Katherine Marshall Monday, 29 November 2010
Virtually every institution with international development as its focus pays tribute to the importance of women in their efforts. Strategy and vision statements promote the empowerment of women; education of girls is cited as a priority of priorities; and both the vulnerabilities and the potential power of the "girl child" are key elements in narratives about development. Transformation from traditional to modern societies requires new roles for women and girls and equality between women and men. Barack Obama noted this trend in his Cairo speech addressing majority-Muslim societies in June, 2009: "I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity—men and women—to reach their full potential."
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