Justice, equality or empowerment? Global gender norms in Islamic Relief Worldwide

Based on a qualitative case study of Islamic Relief Worldwide, this research project explores local conceptions of global gender equality norms, asking how, when and why these norms are integrated into the discourses and practices of the organisation.

Analysing the relationship between global norms and local discourses and practices as multifaceted and multidirectional processes of appropriation, translation, contestation, rejection and reconceptualization, the project challenges dominant literature on norm diffusion as a linear process towards homogenization, institutionalisation and closure, emphasising instead that global norms are seldom conclusively accepted once and for all, but remain contested even after their internalization in law and institutions.

The project is part of GLONO, a larger research programme on global norms and heterogeneous donor organisations, funded by the Danish Research Council and anchored at the Danish Institute for International Studies.

The research programme will host an international conference on Gender equality norms and the politics of development cooperation at the Danish Institute for International Studies, May 18-20, 2016. For further information, please contact Marie Juul Petersen, mape@humanrights.dk.

Partner

Danish Institute for International Studies