Global Women's Issues Women in the World Today, extended version Women and Poverty

Chapter Women and Poverty Chapter Summary ' Women Experience of Poverty Why Focus on Women in Poverty ?

Ways to Reduce Women Poverty Profile Social Entrepreneur Empowers Women Project Women Fight Poverty One Coffee Bean at a Time Additional Resources Chapter discusses the link between gender and poverty . Women are the majority of the poor due to cultural and values , division of assets , and power dynamics between men and women . Indeed , women and girls bear an unequal burden of unpaid domestic responsibilities and are in informal and precarious jobs . Women also possess inherent agency and knowledge that is overlooked by as they form and implement poverty reduction plans . Development interventions continue to be based on the idea that men are and women are dependents . The chapter positions poverty as the root cause of gender inequality and discusses social entrepreneurship as a path toward women economic and social . The author introduces two approaches to addressing poverty among women and small business cooperatives . The approach is exemplified by the bank , founded by in Pakistan in 1996 . By 2009 , included active borrowers , deposits of million , and depositors . an organization based in the region of La Paz , Honduras , is representative of the cooperative approach . The program trained women to grow and sell coffee beans as a means to gain economic independence and escape domestic violence . Both case studies emphasize that helping women increase their economic agency gives them footing to combat poverty and achieve independence . Cooperative Domestic labour Dulce Economic empowerment Foundation

Women in the World Today , extended version La de Mujeres de la Paz ( Millennium Development Goals ( Social entrepreneurship World Bank Overview By Geeta Figure Women constitute a of the poor and are often poorest of the poor . A woman hugs her granddaughter in their shack near , Argentina . Women constitute a majority of the poor and are often the poorest of the poor . The societal disadvantage and inequality they face because they are women shapes their experience of poverty differently from that of men , increases their vulnerability , and makes it more challenging for them to climb out of poverty . In

Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State other words , poverty is a experience addressing it requires a gender analysis of norms and values , the division of assets , work and responsibility , and the dynamics of power and control between women and men in poor households . In most societies , gender norms define women role as largely relegated to the home , as mother and caretaker , and men role as responsible for productive activities outside the home . These norms influence institutional policies and laws that define women and men access to productive resources such as education , employment , land and credit . There is overwhelming evidence from around the world to show that girls and women are more disadvantaged than boys and men in their access to these valued productive resources . There is also ample evidence to show that the responsibilities of women and the challenges they face within poor households and communities are different from those of men . Persistent gender inequality and differences in women and men roles greatly influence the causes , experiences and consequences of women poverty . Policies and programs to alleviate poverty must , therefore , take account of gender inequality and gender differences to effectively address the needs and constraints of both poor women and men .

Women in the World Today , extended version ' Pakistani are paid about US for every bricks they make at this brick kiln in , Pakistan .

Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Figure Women in , cope with a food crisis created by drought . Worldwide , women are driven further into poverty by food prices . Women Experience of Poverty Girls and women in poor households bear a disproportionate share of the work and responsibility of feeding and caring for family members through unpaid household work . In poor rural households , for example , women work is dominated by activities such as firewood , water and fodder collection , care of livestock and subsistence agriculture . The drudgery of women work and its demands contribute to women time poverty and greatly limit poor women choice of other , more productive opportunities . Faced with difficult choices , women in poor households will often sacrifice their own health and nutrition , or the education of their daughters , by recruiting them to take care of siblings or share in other household tasks . This is just one piece of a pattern of discrimination in the allocation of resources in poor households . Evidence shows that the gender gaps in nutrition , education and health are greater in poorer households . This lack of investment in the human capital of girls perpetuates a vicious , cycle of poverty and disadvantage that is partly responsible for the intractable nature of poverty .

Women in the World Today , extended version Why Focus on Women in Poverty ?

A focus on poor women as distinct from men in efforts to reduce poverty is justified because women paid and unpaid work is crucial for the survival of poor households . Women are economic actors They produce and process food for the family they are the primary caretakers of children , the elderly and the sick and their income and labor are directed toward children education , health and . In fact , there is incontrovertible evidence from a number of studies conducted during the that mothers typically spend their income on food and health care for children , which is in sharp contrast to men , who spend a higher proportion of their income for personal needs . A study conducted in Brazil , for example , found that the positive effect on the probability that a child will survive in urban Brazil is almost 20 times greater when the household income is controlled by a woman rather than by a man ( et , 1995 ) Yet women face significant constraints in maximizing their productivity . They often do not have equal access to productive inputs or to markets for their goods . They own only 15 percent of the land worldwide , work longer hours than men and earn lower wages . They are among workers in the informal labor market , in jobs that are seasonal , more precarious and not protected by labor standards . Despite this , policies and programs that are based on notions of a typical household as consisting of a male and dependent women and children often target men for the provision of productive resources and services . Such an approach widens the productivity gap , negatively affects women economic status , and does little to reduce poverty . Addressing these gender biases and inequalities by intentionally investing in women as economic agents , and doing so within a framework of rights that ensures that women access to and control over productive resources is a part of their entitlement as citizens , is an effective and efficient poverty reduction strategy . Ways to Reduce Women Poverty Over the years there have been many efforts to reduce women poverty . Investments to increase agricultural productivity , improve livestock management and provide livelihood opportunities are key ways to address the needs of poor rural women . Another , more popular and effective intervention that currently reaches millions of women worldwide is small loans and other financial services for poor women who have no access to the formal banking system . programs have succeeded in increasing the incomes of poor households and protecting them against complete destitution . Yet another strategy to improve the economic status of poor women has been to increase women access to and control of land . Women who own or control land can use the land to produce food or generate income , or as collateral for credit . These strategies are promising and offer potential for meeting the international community commitment to gender equality as demonstrated most recently through the inclusion of Goal in the Millennium Development Goals ( All that remains now is for that commitment to be transformed into action . Geeta is a senior fellow at the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation Global Development Program and an internationally recognized expert on gender and development issues , including women health , economic empowerment , poverty alleviation and gender equality . Prior to joining the foundation , was president of the International Center for Research on Women ( She also serves on the Steering Committee of , an international initiative commissioned by ,

Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Advisory Committee for Voluntary Foreign Aid and the boards of the Fund , the Nike Foundation , the MAC AIDS Fund and the Rural Development Institute . PROFILE Social Entrepreneur Empowers Women By Figure Pakistani woman turns social entrepreneur , establishes , and through enables impoverished Pakistani women to improve their lives . You feel really great when you enable poor families to transform , change their mindset and bring up their children with a concept of financial management at the level . This can ensure a decent living for them , says Pakistani entrepreneur . Since 1996 , small initiative at Foundation , the first of its kind in Pakistan ,

Women in the World Today , extended version has changed the lives of more than a million people in 26 districts in Pakistan by extending small credits worth a total of 202 million currently , according to the Foundation website ( successfully runs a fully chartered bank , the Bank , with 31 branches in three provinces , Punjab , and . MIX Market ( a information data and analysis service , reports that in 2009 Bank had active borrowers , a gross loan portfolio of million , with deposits of million by depositors . The average balance per borrower is 350 . This bank , like the foundation , is called miracle or revelation in to evoke the process of . who attended Yale University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania , has the required financial knowledge and skills . She was a specialist on women in development and community for the Development Programme and the World Bank . She has the passion of a women rights activist . An early endeavor was , a women crisis intervention center in . The daughter of a renowned jurist and constitutional expert , started from a office next to her father law offices 15 years ago . She sees social entrepreneurship as her lifetime mission . I am proud of building an institution . am passionate about transforming the lives of families , bringing them out of poverty , she says . She believes that economic leads to policies that favor women development , and without giving economic opportunities to women , social development and empowerment are hardly possible . Both men and women must work together to increase family incomes and contribute to development of the community and the country Only then can Pakistani society become , she says . Economic empowerment of women working through families can guarantee a change in lives and livelihoods of the poor . families is a sustainable way to ensure women development , says . The realities of the and women in villages in remote parts of Pakistan , and a will to help change their fate , prompted to quit her World Bank job in 1995 and enter social entrepreneurship While working with the World Bank , I realized that until we involve women and give them ownership in water and sanitation and other infrastructure projects , we can not ensure implementation and success in these projects , as women are the ones who take care of fetching for rural families and those on the periphery of urban centers .

Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Figure and her mentor , Nobel Peace Prize winner and Bank founder Muhammad , attend a conference . It was a turning point in career when she heard a woman in , saying the villagers knew that clean drinking water is healthy for their families but they needed money to buy it . decided to help them get that money and build better lives . She met Nobel Laureate Muhammad , the pioneer and founder of Bank , and expressed her desire to start a scheme to help the Pakistani poor gain sustainable economic stability . Her meeting with prompted her visit to , to learn from the Bank experience . studied the methods with for two years , and visited other successful projects in Nepal and India . In Pakistan she also benefited from the experiences of Development Foundation , founded by the late Omar Khan , and the Rural Support Programme . She was inspired by the late Pakistani community development pioneer Khan and Sultan Khan , a founder of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme . After having varied experiences , I set up Foundation and I hired young staff from local communities because I believed that enabling the young to earn their livelihoods is important , as they dominate the unemployed population of Pakistan , recalls . Her success received recognition early when , in 1997 , she was awarded a fellowship from the Foundation , which supports innovative social entrepreneurs . operates primarily in Pakistan suburbs 70 percent of its work is on the urban periphery and 30 percent in rural areas . Most credits go to small traders a cobbler shop , a

Women in the World Today , extended version 10 jewelry business , a tea stall or restaurant . Families get loans to fund a business of their choice and for which they have skills . clients have succeeded in a variety of ways . relates the story of with pride . runs a costume jewelry business with provided by . She borrowed . 10 ) 12 years ago to start her own bead jewelry enterprise , after weaving beads as a daily wage worker for a jewelry firm . She later diversified and today owns two molding machines to manufacture metal jewelry . She employs 30 women workers . Her husband works for her now . Her jewelry is sold in several cities . inspires other women to set up small businesses to generate income . is not all about giving loans to individuals , but it is meant to change of communities to enhance their ability to earn their livelihood and live with dignity . With families working together , trading produced sustainable dividends , says . She explains that has expanded from working only with women to working with families . To increase access to capital , founded the Bank . says that from the original 15 clients who were lent a total of in 1996 , has provided loans of 225 million to more than one million families . was among the first such institutions to offer insurance for clients , at a minimal premium , to assist in debt payment when the head of household dies . Apart from , is a founding member of the Pakistan Network and is a member of the . Advisory Group on Inclusive Financial Services . In 2007 , she was named a Foundation social entrepreneur , and has been the recipient of a number of prestigious international awards , including Pakistan highest civilian honor , the . Foundation was ranked 34 out of the top 50 institutions by Forbes magazine in 2007 , and was honored in 2009 with the Initiative Award by the State Department . More recently was a delegate to the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship held in Washington in April 2010 and is the recipient of the Vital Voices 2010 Global Leadership Award for Economic Empowerment . is a journalist , researcher and communications specialist in Pakistan . He is the founder editor of News and Features Network ( a leading Pakistani development and investigative news agency . PROJECT Women Fight Poverty One Coffee Bean at a Time By Sharma Dulce knew that poverty was the source of domestic violence and other problems afflicting women in her community , so she began an organization to educate women about their rights . It soon evolved into an agricultural cooperative that has given its members economic stability . In 1993 , Dulce founded La de Mujeres de La Paz , or , to raise awareness about women rights in Honduras . A daughter of farmers in the rural region of La Paz , Honduras , was tired of watching the women of her community endure widespread alcoholism and domestic violence . Along with seven of her friends , began in order to educate local women about their rights , how to stand up for themselves and eventually become economically independent . Workshops and women shelters were critical to the mission , but soon realized that to reduce domestic violence for the long term , must attack the root problem , poverty .

11 Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Understanding the relationship between poverty and social ills , changed its approach . In addition to the workshops , the organization started training women to grow and sell organic coffee and aloe plants . Traditionally , the women of La Paz looked after the children and relied on men for economic support . Growing coffee and aloe vera , selling the crops and developing products to sell not only enabled women to earn additional income for their families , but gave them economic independence and stability . The initial reaction from the community was hostile . Women empowerment was seen as a threat to families and traditional family values . But as programs grew , and her friends started seeing results that altered family relationships The more money the women made , the more power they were able to assert in the household . The community began to view the women of as economic contributors . More and more women now made decisions jointly with their husbands . The women could more effectively resist domestic abuse . Economic stability and equality within family structures dramatically decreased household violence and improved quality of life within families . All of these women children attend school .

Women in the World Today , extended version 12 and aloe Vera are main products . Today provides employment and income to more than 225 women in rural Honduras through an expanding array of programs . Most programs focus on agricultural production cultivation of oranges to make orange wine , aloe Vera plants for a variety of products , organic coffee , organic fertilizers . programs offer technical advice in organic agriculture and support agricultural

13 Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State lending programs . Literacy political advocacy , grant proposal and fundraising workshops are available to groups . There is now training and support for women to start their own businesses . Some women have purchased their own plots of land through loans from . A cooperative agriculture program helps members form groups ranging in size from five to 25 women . They rent or own small pieces of land where they collectively grow coffee and aloe vera plants . The aloe vera plants are used to produce Organic Aloe products such as shampoo , juices and desserts . In the business model , members grow their own crops , refine and prepare them for use and manufacture products which are distributed in local , regional , national and international markets . The profits are then evenly divided among members . A conscious decision was made to grow organic crops to make all organic products , which makes entry into international markets easier and causes less harm to the environment . coffee is organic and Fair Trade certified . As of November 2009 , was exporting more than pounds of fair trade coffee to Europe each year and employing more than 100 women .

Women in the World Today , extended version 14 Figure members sell their produce and other products at a local market . Their organic products are 15 Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State entering the international market . a mother of six , is a prime example of why works . After separating from her abusive husband , was suddenly faced with raising her children alone . At first she struggled to make ends meet by working multiple jobs . Then provided the means for her to create a sustainable future for her family . With the organization help , started her own producing business , which eventually allowed her to buy a home and five acres of land where she now grows coffee and vegetables . Today , she pays for two daughters to attend college and supports two sons living in the United States . Besides helping her escape domestic abuse and gain economic stability so her family can thrive , inspired to give back to her community by studying law . She now dedicates her spare time to defending the rights of other women in need . Greater economic opportunity and earning capacity allow women to escape violent situations , adequately care for their families and educate their children , thereby strengthening their communities . A woman economic independence increases her stature within and outside her household . based organizations such as empower women to overcome poverty and regain dignity and peace in their lives one coffee bean at a time . Sharma is and president of Women Thrive Worldwide , a leading US . nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that provide economic assistance and capacity building for women living in poverty . Multiple Choice Questions Questions . The Bank was founded by . Dulce Emma Watson . The way intends to achieve its desired outcomes is to . Provide grants to rural women in the global South . Provide health insurance to women working in the informal sector . Provide and loans to women with no access to formal banking services . Improve the economic status of women by increasing access to land and property . According to the text , why do women in particular spend a higher portion of income on their children education and health than on their own personal needs ?

Women are naturally better caregivers than men . Social and political have relegated women to domestic and care responsibilities . Men have been deemed suitable for formal labour outside the home Women in the World Today , extended version 16 . Both and . stated that it is imperative to involve women in water and sanitation infrastructure projects because . The donor organizations have specific gender quotas that must be met . Women are the ones who take care of and other infrastructure needs for rural families . Inclusion of women is necessary to ensure implementation and success of the project . Both and . In public policy , the implications of viewing the household as run exclusively by men include . The gap between women and men productivity increases . Women economic status decreases . Policies created under this assumption have little impact on poverty . All of the above . is A initiative A bilateral women education program created and implemented by . A program initiated by the government of Honduras An agricultural cooperative . Dulce , founder of , realized that the root problem of domestic violence was . Alcohol . Insufficient access to education . Inadequate legal rights . Poverty . Once had a foothold in the community . The community became hostile . Women started to assert their power and made joint household decisions with their husbands . Instances of domestic violence and alcoholism became more rampant . None of the above

17 Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State Answers . The correct answer is ( answer ) is a journalist based in Pakistan and Emma Watson ( answer ) is a British actor and the UN Goodwill Ambassador for the campaign . Dulce ( answer ) founded La de Mujeres de La Paz ( but it was who founded the Bank . The correct answer is The purpose of is to provide and loans to women with no access to formal banking services . generally involves loans ( lending money ) instead of grants ( giving money ) making answer A incorrect . answer ) provides health insurance accessible to those working in the informal sector . Answer is a desired outcome of . The correct answer is Both and are correct . Women distribution of income spending results from social and political norms which place women responsibilities within the home and men within the formal workforce . The textbook does not state that the association between women and family responsibilities is natural or inherent ( answer A ) rather that men and women differing family responsibilities are formed through a series of norms and institutional policies . The correct answer is both and are correct . It is necessary to include women in the development of infrastructure projects because they are the ones who are taking care of the needs of their families and are thus crucial in successful project implementation . Some organizations may have gender quotas for project involvement , but that is not the primary reason for including women ( answer A ) Answer is correct . The correct answer is is a agricultural cooperative that trains women to grow and sell organic coffee and aloe plants . is not a initiative ( answer A ) It is also not a bilateral initiative funded by ( answer ) and is not a government program ( answer ) The correct answer is Alcohol ( answer A ) was identified as a significant contributor to domestic violence , but not the root cause . Legal rights ( answer ) and education ( answer ) were both part of original advocacy plan , but realized that the root problem to address was poverty . The correct answer is . The hostility among the community was an initial reaction ( answer A ) but the chapter mentions that it faded as women became seen as economic contributors . Instances of domestic violence did not increase ( answer ) They decreased as women and men began making joint decisions as a result of women increased financial power . Why is it important for international organizations and governments to include a focus on women as they seek to combat poverty ?

According to the chapter , what are some ways that women poverty can be reduced ?

What approaches are most effective ?

Why ?

Women in the World Today , extended version 18 . What is the function and purpose of ?

Briefly describe how business cooperatives , such as , are organized . Why is it important that development programs address women as individuals with economic potential ?

What are the commonalities and differences between the Foundation and ?

How do both programs address gender inequality ?

What are the benefits , challenges , and limitations of as an approach to women economic empowerment ?

Essay Questions . To what extent is economic the root cause of violence and poverty among women ?

Is the market the most effective means of addressing economic empowerment ?

The chapter highlights two projects in the sector . What should be the role of as compared with the state in pursuing gender equality ?

What does the focus on actors instead of government programming suggest about the connections between entrepreneurship as an approach to women empowerment and ?

The chapter discusses the importance of involving women in infrastructure projects . If women are key stakeholders in poverty reduction , should they be included in the implementation of infrastructure projects , their formation , or both ?

Why or why not ?

Additional Resources Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) World ( 2016 ) Frequently updated country profiles , comparisons , and information on history , government , economy , military , and numerous transnational issues . A . as a Poverty Reduction Tool A Critical Working Paper ( 2009 ) Critical analysis of the effectiveness of as a universal poverty reduction tool . Strickland , Leveling the Playing Field Promoting Women Economic Capabilities and Human International Centre for Research on Women ( 2000 ) Expands on the movement and provides an analysis of the challenges and opportunities experienced by organizations through a feminist lens .

19 Bureau of International Information Programs , United States Department of State , Johnson , A . and Gender Issues , Challenges and the Road Journal Studies . 2016 ) Gender , Poverty , and Inequality A Brief History of Feminist Contributions in the Field of International Gender Development 23 ( 189 205 . 2015 ) Nanda , et al . Making Change with Cash ?

Impact of Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Girls Education and Age of Marriage in International Centre for Research on Women ( 2016 ) Evaluates the impact of conditional cash transfers in addressing gender inequality . The 2030 Agenda Challenges of Implementation to Attain Gender Equality and Women Rights . Gender Development 24 ( 25 41 . 2016 ) Sustainable Development Goals ( The succeeded the as the global targets for poverty reduction as of ?

1300 World Bank . Conditional Cash Transfers ( 2009 ) programs are another mechanism of economic empowerment towards poverty reduction . The World Women 2015 . Poverty . 2015 ) Annually updated global data and analysis on gender disparities in poverty . University of California Atlas of Inequality Combines GIS and database technology with Internet multimedia to provide online resources that enable users to examine global change .