ABSTRACT
This article examines the thesis that women are marginalised from production in the course of development, in the light of recent research which shows contradictory trends. The analysis reveals serious deficiencies in the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the female marginalisation*thesis. The result is not that the FM thesis is wrong, but that it is untestable. These problems are discussed with reference to Peruvian and Brazilian material. The article argues for attention to be paid to the micro-level processes which give rise to women’s marginalisation.
