Beyond Numbers

The World Bank Group explores subnational diversity and the economic power found in gender equality.

The self-described Nigerian Brit trained as a barrister in labor and corporate law, but said she meandered into human rights work, particularly women’s rights in Africa, and pursued one master’s degree in the topic and another in masculinities.

“Generally, when you start talking about diversity, you look at it from the perspective of minorities,” Oyegun explained. “But when I started out in this work, I was looking at gender. I started looking at women’s rights, but then it occurred to me that it’s equally important to understand how men see their role in society, how they see themselves and how they relate to one another.”

Since she joined the organization in July 2001, Oyegun has had ample opportunities to apply that knowledge because, as she says, in any job, men are generally in charge. Therefore, it’s important to understand and to get them to reflect on what that means — not just for themselves, but for women. Further, it’s not just about being a man; it’s about being a man of a certain kind.

The bank segments countries into part one, countries that fund it, and part two, countries that it funds. “Your approach to international development as a part-one man is somewhat different from what a part-two man might regard as development, at least at the beginning of your career,” she said.

“When you’re coming from a funding country, you come with a certain set of assumptions,” Oyegun said. “They don’t necessarily have to prove themselves. From the get-go, there’s the assumption that they bring tremendous gravitas and competence and expertise. They’re almost the embodiment of all these things the rest of us scramble to prove.”

Being a part-two man is also a bit easier, at least from the beginning, because Oyegun said they too are given the benefit of the doubt, as is a part-one female, to a certain extent.