The perspectives on women and development have evolved over time, reflecting the changing societal, economic, and political contexts in which women live. In the field of social work and social development, these perspectives are crucial as they shape how women’s roles are understood, valued, and supported in the development process.

One of the earliest perspectives on women and development emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, during the post-World War II period. This was characterized by a "women in development" approach (WID), which primarily viewed women as passive beneficiaries of development. The focus was on integrating women into existing development processes, often through programs aimed at improving their health, education, and economic opportunities. The WID approach viewed women’s involvement in development as essential for promoting growth and poverty alleviation, yet it tended to focus on women’s roles as mothers, workers, and caregivers within the family, without considering the wider systemic factors that affect their lives.

In the 1970s and 1980s, this view was critiqued by the "gender and development" (GAD) approach. GAD emphasized the need to understand and address the social and structural inequalities between men and women, particularly in terms of power relations, access to resources, and opportunities. Instead of focusing solely on women as a separate group, the GAD approach sought to analyze the gendered