Telecommunications, Gender and Development

The role of women in international communication and development continues to be of importance. Women in development (WID) has been promoted in international communication in various countries, and international agencies like the World Bank have supported international communication and development projects promoted by women. Women have also spearheaded most developmental projects in developing countries. For example, most of the telecentre managers in South African telecentres are women, though there are a considerable number of men-telecentre-managers. Wilkins (1997) argues that though WID has evolved over the years into GAD (Gender and Development promoting the role of both men and women and families in households settings, in development), women are still prominent in development projects internationally. The underlying framework of Wilkins's research assumes that development operates as an institutional discourse that articulates knowledge about women and power through intervention. Women continue to play key roles in development and in international communication, and governments need to promote this role of women for the development of their societies and countries.