“Investing in gender equality is the most effective strategy to promote economic and social development.” Discuss this statement.

There are many possible approaches to this question; each should be assessed on its merits. 

Many responses are likely to focus on the positive aspects that improved gender equality has on societies and economies. These include the role of women in influencing trends in demography (via age of marriage, number of children), employment (via presence in the workforce), education, health care and politics, among others. It is also possible that reference is made to the Millennium Development Goals, three of which directly focus on improving the status of women. It is also possible that candidates will refer to composite indexes of development and link strategies to empowering women with these indexes.

Discussion may also include some mention of at least one other strategy that promotes economic and social development such as trade and market access, debt relief, aid and remittances.

It is also possible that responses may take an alternative approach and consider that investing in gender equality is not the most effective strategy to promote development. They would need to make their case and be able to describe and explain other strategies that they consider to be more effective.

Responses that are generalized, with few or no examples, are unlikely to advance beyond band D.

Responses that offer a sound discussion with examples and arrive at a clear conclusion either agreeing or disagreeing with the viewpoint are likely to be awarded band E or above.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

Many good answers took the time to introduce the aspects of development that were advanced by gender equality such as GNI per capita, reduced population growth, political advancement, etc. There were some good answers that were well crafted with balance and focus. Stronger responses examined a variety of issues such as the elimination of gender disparity in primary and secondary education, the ratio of literate women to men in young adults, the share of women in the non-agricultural employment sectors and the proportion of seats in national parliaments, to name just a few; all backed with specific geographical examples or case studies. Alternative strategies such as improved trade; development of infrastructure; drive to age of high mass consumption and progress in tertiary and quaternary occupations were also discussed. Composite indices of social and economic development were used to good effect in the best answers. Case studies were seen from Kerala, India; Saudi Arabia; Finland; Norway and Japan to name just a few. This question allowed very good candidates to demonstrate accurate, specific, well-detailed knowledge and understanding of gender issues; examples and case studies were well chosen and developed. The best answers contained wide, well-balanced analysis with good evaluation and application. These answers were a pleasure to read and reflected a very intelligent and well-crafted approach. There were some scripts which took the opposite view from the statement but these tended to be rare with moderate success. The weaker responses tended to ignore the question and focus their response on a list of examples of where women’s rights are not prioritized with no explanation as to how tackling this will help with development.