Mortgaging Women's Lives: Feminist Critiques of Structural Adjustment

by Pamela Sparr

This book explores the impact on Third World women of the stringent economic prescriptions of the World Bank and IMF. Introductory chapters explain in non-jargonistic terms exactly what structural adjustment is. These are followed by feminist critiques of its implications, and then a series of carefully chosen case studies examining the specific dimensions of structural adjustment in countries as diverse as Jamaica, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Pamela Sparr works to cultivate UUSC’s relationship with individual activists and congregations as well as grow its activist base. As associate director for UUSC’s Justice-Building Program, she leads the development of campaigns to support UUSC’s programs, spearheads advocacy and engagement opportunities for volunteers of all ages, and mobilizes ministers and congregations to advance justice.

Sparr has run a consulting business that helped nonprofits conduct strategic planning, develop and implement new programs and campaigns, and engage constituents in more powerful ways. Her work included advising the Ford Foundation and international development organizations on anti-poverty strategies, conducting a gender audit of worldwide operations for the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center, and leading a national advisory group that worked on a justice-oriented sustainability road map for U.S. cities and towns. Sparr holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from Oberlin College and a master’s degree in economics from the New School for Social Research.

Reviews

[Abe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, I generally like case studies and books which are a compilation of them if the subject is well tailored (and it is here). I will say in some sense it works slightly to its disadvantage because the sum total of the effects of SAPs on women are unclear and non-unitary. The Nigeria chapter was the weakest and felt driven by the pressure to include original research. The overall historical context and description of the effects aspects were fine but the inclusion of a survey they conducted had such a small sample size it did not feel generalizable. I think the book might have been aided by a stronger theoretical framework as well but still appreciate the breadth of its coverage.