Neoliberalism, Gender, and Development: Institutionalizing "Post-Feminism" in Medellín, Colombia

Like all theoretical tools and discourses, the theory of gender is always interpreted by persons within particular social contexts and with particular orientations to the social world. In the context of an increasing neoliberal hegemony, states are shrinking their development budgets, seeking new ways to economize, and gender policies are of course implicated in these changes. Here, Murdock discusses how both state officials and local feminist organizations in Medellin, Colombia used the gender perspective discourse, which although has some positive associations, has also evidence that under neoliberal regimes, it could justify a hostile reception to subversive feminist politics.