Traces of Secularism in Danish Development Policy on Gender Equality

Abstract: The thesis seeks to do a discursive analysis of the articulation of religion’s role in promoting gender equality in Danish development policies. The empirical material analysed is that of official development policies regarding gender equality and statements from the Minister of Development Cooperation in the area of gender equality and freedom of religion and belief. The thesis draws on theories of secularism, Danish secularism and secular feminism and investigates the empirical material determining to which extend the construction of religion’s role on gender equality reflects secularist ideologies. The thesis concludes that discourses of secularism guide the understanding of gender equality and religion’s role in gender equality in multiple ways.