Publisher's Synopsis
This book is a collection of original essays based on field work carried out by Norwegian researchers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It deals primarily with changes in the lives of women and men in a variety of socio-economic contexts, usually involving rapid market integration. Most of the studies focus on women analyzed within a gender framework, some deal with continuity and change in women's and men's behaviour, while others explore the intersection between the two levels. Women are portrayed not only as victims of circumstance, but also as social actors who, often in the face of overwhelming contraints, negotiate with men in trying to pursue economic and social strategies to cope with their changing environment.;The book depicts the complexities of gendered local responses to social change, and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and impact of the processes currently taking place in the developing world.;This volume should be of interest to social anthropologists, sociologists and development workers.
