Alumni Spotlight : Aoife Burke
Highly Commended 2022 Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy
March 8, 2023
Aoife Burke
Highly Commended 2022 Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy
The Global Undergraduate Awards is recognising #IWD2023 International Women’s Day 2023 and recognises a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination, that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive is a world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can make a difference, to achieve parity.
#EmbraceEquity with our 2022 Highly Commended Paper for Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy in our Winners Library from Aoife Burke a recent graduate from the University of Galway
As we mark another International Women’s Day, we’re reminded that the road to gender equality is far from over. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, it may still take over 130 years to achieve true parity. It’s a sobering statistic—but also a powerful call to reflect, rethink, and reimagine how we approach change.
During my undergraduate studies, I set out to explore why decades of gender-focused development work haven’t yielded the transformation they promised. The result was my paper, Rebranding Old Mistakes: A Comparative Analysis of Gender Theory in International Development, which I invite you to read today.
The paper explores two major frameworks that have shaped international development since the 1970s:
- Women in Development (WID), which focused on integrating women into existing economic systems
- Gender and Development (GAD), a more radical response that aimed to challenge structural inequality
While GAD offered a promising shift—recognizing the role of patriarchy, global capitalism, and reproductive labour—it often fell into the same traps as WID. Both approaches, I argue, have struggled because they remain tied to donor-driven agendas rooted in Global North institutions. Without space for autonomous, locally led solutions, true gender equality remains out of reach.
One powerful example I explore is Thomas Sankara’s Burkina Faso, where women were central to a grassroots, community-driven development model—proving that alternatives are not only possible but essential.
If you’re interested in international development, gender studies, or just looking for a thought-provoking read this International Women’s Day, I hope you’ll take the time to explore the full paper.
Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity #AwardYourWork
