Women and

Poverty

According to some estimates, women represent 70 percent of the world’s poor

“I find good clean cardboard and I always carry my own sleeping bag. The most important thing is to have blankets. We learn to carry those blankets. We learn to because this is our home.”

-Nancy, Canada.

Women Feed the world (http://thp.org.mx/video/8.html )

Statistics

Things Women Do Worldwide:

◦ Perform 66% of the work ◦ Produce 50% of the food ◦ Earn 10% of income◦ Own 1% of property

Developing Countries:◦ Provide 70% of agricultural labour◦ Produce more than 90% of the food◦ Nowhere represented in budget deliberations

Arab States:◦ Only 28% of women participate in the workforce

South Africa:◦ The average distance to the moon is 394,400 km, South African

women together walk the equivalent of a trip to the moon and back 16 times a day to supply their households with water

Feminization of Poverty “The feminization of poverty is a change in

the levels of poverty biased against women or female headed households. More specifically, it is an increase in the difference in the levels of poverty among women and men or among female versus male and couple headed households.”

Poverty impacts women more severely than it does men

What are the reasons for this?

Discussion Question

Causes of the Feminization of Poverty

Growth of Female-Headed Households

Intra-Household Inequalities

Divorces, separations Children born to single

mothers Higher male mortality

Patriarchal family situation

Gender division of labour and consumption within the household (unpaid work)

Causes of the Feminization of PovertyInequality in Access to Public Services

Inequality to Social Protection

Barriers to education for girls

Lack of specific health attention

Lower access to pensions and social assistance

Inequality in benefit values in targeted policies

Causes of the Feminization of PovertyLabour Market Inequalities

Legal Restraints in Public Life

Occupational segregation

Intra-career mobility Wage discrimination Duration of work shifts

Property rights Discrimination in the

judiciary system Constraints in

community and political life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYpuXpbf0jg&feature=related

Case Study: USA

a) African Americanb) Asian

c) Whited) Hispanic

Which of the following ethnicities do you think has the highest level of poverty?

a) Married women with no dependent childrenb) Single women with no dependent childrenc) Married women with dependent childrend) Single women with dependent children

What family make-up do you think has the highest poverty rate?

a) 0-24b) 25-54

c) 55-74d) 75+

Which age group lives in the most poverty?

What is the average annual salary for full time employed women and men in 2007?

c) $35 102 d) $45 113

Womena) $17 865b) $27 562c) $35 102d) $43 947

Mena) $20 655b) $26 435c) $39 734d) $45 113

Knowing the causes of the Feminization of Poverty, what do YOU think can be done to help address women and poverty?

Solutions

“The best policy solutions to address women’s poverty must combine a range of decent employment opportunities with a network of social services that support healthy families, such as quality health care, child care, and housing support. Policy objectives must also recognize the multiple barriers to economic security women face based on their race, ethnicity, immigration status, sexuality, physical ability, and health status. These approaches must promote the equal social and economic status of all women by expanding their opportunities to balance work and family life.”

Largest worldwide poverty reduction campaign

United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Women have multiple roles. At any given time they can be mothers, leaders, students, decision-makers, farmers, workers, voters and much more

In each of these roles, the ability to be educated and healthy, to have voice and influence, and to enjoy opportunities and choices are critical to the attainment of the Goals.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to achieving the MDGs because without these capabilities and opportunities, women are less able to reach their full potential, live a life of dignity, and be productive citizens.

Attaining the Millennium Development Goals

“Gender equality helps accelerate achievement of each goal. In addition, there is solid evidence that progress in gender equality in one goal often contributes simultaneously towards progress on a number of other development goals. For example, gender equality in education also makes significant contributions to a nation’s economic growth and poverty reduction as well as to reduced malnutrition, fertility, and child mortality”

Explain how gender equality and women’s empowerment is essential for the worldwide community to achieve each millennium development goal

Use the following website to get your information:http://www.unifem.org/attachments/products/MDGsAndGenderEquality_1_MakingChangeHappen.pdf

Homework