The concept of poverty has long been a pressing concern for societies worldwide. However, a nuanced and alarming aspect of this issue has become a focus in recent years: the feminisation of poverty. This term highlights the disproportionate impact of poverty on women, revealing how gender-based discrimination perpetuates economic inequality.
This article explores the factors contributing to the feminisation of poverty and the potential solutions to bridge this distressing gap.
According to statistics produced by UN Women, the UNDP, and the Pardee Centre, 388 million women and girls currently live in extreme poverty. Of these, 244 million reside in sub-Saharan Africa. This stems from multiple interrelated factors, including wage disparities, educational limitations, poorly developed social welfare programs, and discrimination within the workforce.
These issues, combined with gender roles and societal expectations, often confine women to domestic roles, limiting their access to economic opportunities and resources (Azcona, 2022; Chant, 2006, 2016; Pearce, 1978; Phalane, 2004).
A key aspect contributing to the disproportionate impact of poverty on women is the lack of education. Access to education plays a vital role in poverty alleviation; however, women in many countries still face barriers to education due to cultural norms, early marriage, and lack of resources.
Particularly in under-resourced communities, there is a tendency to prioritize investing in male children. This results in female children experiencing higher levels of illiteracy, higher school dropout rates, and an increased likelihood of remaining trapped within the cycle of poverty.
Limited education hampers their chances of securing stable employment and higher-paying jobs that require higher levels of literacy. This is directly reflected in the disproportionately low female representation in highly skilled jobs globally (Banda & Atansah, 2016; OECD, 2011).
Moreover, when women do find employment, they are more likely to encounter wage gaps, where they are paid less than their male counterparts for the same work. In industries dominated by women, such as caregiving and domestic work, wages tend to be lower, further entrenching economic disadvantages. This wage disparity not only affects individual women but also has far-reaching implications for their families and communities.
The Paths to Equal report produced by UN Women and the UNDP indicated that none of the 114 countries studied had effectively achieved gender parity – a clear indicator that significant strides still need to be made to achieve this goal (Chant, 2016; Chen & Carr, 2004; OECD, 2011; Phalane, 2005; UNDP & UN Women, 2023).
Research has indicated that a primary means of addressing poverty is the adoption and implementation of effective social welfare programs. While effective social welfare systems and policies are vital in mitigating poverty, low-income countries have limited, if any, programs in place to address the specific challenges faced by women.
There is a need for policymakers to recognize and address gender disparities to create more inclusive and effective poverty reduction strategies. The tendency for unpaid care work, such as childcare and household chores, to disproportionately fall upon women is a significant issue that social welfare programs could aim to address.
The time and energy invested in these tasks leave women with limited opportunities to participate in paid work or pursue personal development. As a result, women face increased financial vulnerability, particularly in the absence of social safety nets (Chant, 2016; Hyde et al., 2020).
To tackle the feminisation of poverty, concerted efforts are required on multiple fronts. Programs that eliminate wage gaps and provide equal opportunities for career growth can significantly empower women economically. Investing in social welfare programs that cater to women’s needs and recognizing the value of unpaid care work are also crucial steps in addressing this issue.
Governments and organizations need to develop targeted policies to uplift women from poverty, focusing on inclusive economic development and access to resources. Education projects that empower women through financial literacy programs and microfinance initiatives, for example, have proven to create economic independence and opportunities for self-employment.
Supporting programs with proven track records (or measurable impact metrics) that are scalable and move past theoretical realms into practice is necessary. The need for female agency and proportional representation in spaces of change is also a crucial shift. Effecting changes towards equality and addressing women’s rights is not possible without adequate female representation in these conversations.
The feminisation of poverty is an alarming reality that demands urgent attention. By acknowledging and addressing the systemic barriers and biases that perpetuate gender-based economic inequality, societies can take significant steps towards creating a more just and equitable world.
Empowering women with education, access to economic opportunities, and supportive policies can help break the cycle of poverty and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future. Through the support of meaningful, scalable, high-impact projects, we have the ability to make strides towards the goal of gender parity and move away from idealized notions that remain theoretical and out of reach for those who need them most.
Article by: Tiffany Henshall
References:
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Banda, J. & Atansah, P. 2016. An agenda for harmful cultural practices and girls’ empowerment. Centre for Global Development. Viewed 7 August 2023. https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/agenda-harmful-cultural-practices-and-girls-empowerment.pdf
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