Assess the statement that 'providing aid to developing countries affects gender inequalities'

Assess question - thus there is room for personal analysis / critical thought (not only the repetition of content, but rather also personal interpretation of content based on arguments)
argument that aid increases gender inequalities - via providing aid to developing countries (which are often patriarchal), the money will continue to be distributed amongst men (as the 'leader' of the household), and thus will not offer adequate support to increase female liberation (feminist argument). For example, aid donated a government may not 'trickle down' to women (who are often the lowest on the chain of heirarchy in most societies - and thus women, especially poor women - will not benefit from aid, nor will it close the gap in gender achievement - over 2/3 of the global illeterate are women!) Note also the 'white elephant' effect in aid donation by governments and NGOs - which fund projects (some - Dependency Theorists - would argue inappropriately) from the 'top-down' which excludes women or female empowerment. argument that aid does not increase gender inequalities - aid projects (if they are small-scale and community based) can hugely empower women - Sachs. This can be done by giving women more purchasing power (see microcredit schemes in Bangladesh - and study done in Brazilian favelas which found that women, when they are in control of family funds, spend money far more efficiently and more evenly amongst the family than when done by men) or expanding education from the bottom-up; such as offering financial incentives for families to send their girls to school (and to keep them in school past primary education).