Durham, NC — On April 17, the Levine Science Research Center at Duke University was filled with excitement as students from the Spring 2024 Global Inequality Research Initiative (GIRI) course on Gender and Development presented their capstone projects. These projects covered a range of topics from the impacts of gender stereotypes on STEM career aspirations to gender inequality in healthcare systems.
The Spring 2024 session was led by Dr. Burça Kizilirmak, a visiting professor, from Ankara University in Türkiye. Dr. Kizilirmak is a Professor of Economics, specializing in women’s labor force participation, intra-household distribution of work, and inflation inequality. The course also benefited from the expertise of two teaching assistants, Afrah Muzayen and Jaelyn Nixon.
The course provided an in-depth overview of gender inequalities in various social and economic spheres globally. It explored disparities in education, healthcare, and the workplace. Subsequently, students delved into the concept of development, focusing on how gender considerations are integrated into development discourse. They examined various approaches to gender and development and their evolution over time.
The Cook Center extends special thanks to all who supported the course instruction and the organization of this significant capstone presentation. This includes Dr. William A. Darity, Dr. Gwendolyn Wright, Dr. Adam Hollowell, Dr. Shahrazad A. Shareef, Dr. Amber Holland, Rachel Ruff, and Catherine Kiplagat.
For more about the GIRI program, including the upcoming Fall 2025 course, click here.
