Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

2-1-2012

Abstract

The role of women in development has generated countless studies devoted to illuminating distinct aspects of womens lives and experiences. Several theories, developmentalism and social feminism, were created as a response to modernization theory's inattention to the roles of women in the process of development. Developmentalism has focused on the influence of the improved status of women on economic development. This study examines this association from the developmentalist perspective for 126 countries every five years between 1980 and 2005. Additionally, this paper investigates the linking mechanisms of women's status to economic development. Secondary data acquired from the World Bank website was used to assess this relationship using a pooled time series cross-sectional analysis with two way fixed effects. My findings indicate that 'the' status of women does not exist. However, several aspects of women's lives and experiences (education, employment and reproduction) have an influence on economic growth. Women's fertility and infant mortality rates were found to mediate the effects of female secondary schooling rates and female labor force participation rates on economic development.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Roberts, Aki

Second Committee Member

Santoro, Wayne

Keywords

Women--Education--Economic aspects, Women--Employment--Economic aspects, Fertility, Human--Economic aspects, Economic development--Social aspects

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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