The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development - Essential Reference

In this review the Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development is presented as a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary reference aimed at scholars, policy makers and graduate students who need a rigorous overview of contemporary debates and practice. The single biggest reason to buy is its breadth: over 50 contributions organized into eight inter-related sections offer both theoretical framing and empirical studies that together make this volume a durable reference for teaching, policy work and research in gender and development.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage: The handbook gathers over 50 contributions which together map the current state of scholarship and practice across multiple regions and disciplines.
• Theoretical and practical balance: Chapters combine conceptual reviews with case studies, useful for readers who want both frameworks and applied examples.
• International scope: Contributors bring varied regional experience, enabling comparative reflection on policy and practice in different contexts.
• Organized structure: Eight inter-related sections make it straightforward to locate material on themes such as politics, policy and practice.
• Reference value: The handbook functions as a go-to resource for literature reviews, course syllabi and policy briefings across gender studies.

Who It's For

The handbook is best suited for academic readers - senior undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty - as well as practitioners and policy makers who require a rigorous, multi-disciplinary synthesis of gender and development debates. It is particularly valuable for those building course reading lists or conducting literature reviews that need authoritative, cross-cutting perspectives.

Readers seeking a brief primer or a pocket guide to quick practical tips may find the handbook dense; those audiences should look for shorter handbooks or practitioner toolkits rather than this extensive edited volume.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide-ranging contributions provide depth across theory, policy and empirical work, supporting diverse research needs.
• International authorship enhances comparative insight and relevance to multiple regional contexts.
• Clear organization into eight sections improves usability for teaching and reference.

Cons

• The edited nature and breadth mean chapters vary in style and accessibility, so some sections are more academic and dense than others.

Specifications

Title	The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development
Series	Routledge International Handbooks
Editors	Leslie Gray, Anne Coles, Janet Momsen
Contributions	Over 50 chapters from leading scholars
Organization	Eight inter-related sections
Scope	International, multi-disciplinary

Our Verdict

For anyone assembling a serious reading list or conducting research in gender and development, this handbook is a high-value purchase because it consolidates authoritative reviews, theoretical approaches and empirical studies in one place. It is especially well suited to academic and policy audiences who need a sustained, comparative resource rather than a quick primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this handbook include empirical case studies?
Yes. The volume combines theoretical chapters with empirical studies from multiple regions to connect concepts with practice.

Who edited the handbook?
The editors are Leslie Gray, Anne Coles and Janet Momsen, who assemble contributions from leading scholars in the field.

Is this suitable for an undergraduate course?
It is suitable as a core or supplemental text for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses, but instructors may select specific chapters rather than assign the entire volume.