Youth, Gender and the Capabilities Approach to Development by Lopez-Fogues, Aurora; Melis Cin, Firdevs;

Short description:

This book investigates to what extent young people can access fair opportunities, the factors influencing their aspirations, and how able they are to pursue these aspirations. The book is positioned in the intersection between capabilities, youth and gender.

Long description:

Youth, Gender and the Capabilities Approach to Development investigates to what extent young people have access to fair opportunities, the factors influencing their aspirations, and how able they are to pursue these aspirations and to carry out their life plans. The book positions itself in the intersection between capabilities, youth and gender, in recognition of the fact that without gender equality, capabilities cannot be universal and development strategies are likely to fail to achieve their full objectives.

Within the framework of the human development and capabilities approach, Youth, Gender and the Capabilities Approach to Development focuses on examples in the areas of education, political spaces, and social practices that
confront inequality and injustice head on, by seeking to advance young people’s capabilities and their agency to make valuable life plans. The book focuses how youth policies and issues can be approached globally from
a capabilities-friendly perspective; arguing for the promotion of freedoms and opportunities both in educational and political spheres, with the aim of developing a more just world. With a range of studies from multiple and
diverse national contexts, including Russia, Spain, South Africa, Tanzania, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Colombia, India and Argentina, this important multidisciplinary collection will be of interest to researchers within youth
studies, gender studies and development studies, as well as to policy makers and NGOs.

This is an exciting new book. Written largely by emerging researchers from several countries and disciplines, the volume treads a careful and principled line between reflecting on the ways in which young people, especially young women, face a hostile world and highlighting ways in which young people are agents for positive change.

Professor Simon McGrath PhD FAcSS FRSA, University of Nottingham, UNESCO Chair in the Political Economy of Education, Associate Head of School.

For those who want to feel inspired by the possibilities for young people everywhere to live flourishing lives, this is essential reading. Case studies from all over the world show the potential of thinking about youth, gender and social justice through the prism of expanding freedom and opportunities to make life choices.

Monica McLean, Professor of Education,  School of Education, University of Nottingham.

This is a timely volume which explores how education becomes both an individual and a public good that benefits communities and nations. The editors have done a wonderful job in drawing together the gendered experiences of young people from across the globe. The book is a necessary reference point for those interested in the potential of education in delivering global development.

Parvati Raghuram, Professor of Geography and Migration at The Open University.

Table of Contents:

TABLE OF CONTENTS