Feminization of
Poverty
Professor Ishrat Shamim
Institute of Disaster Management and
Vulnerability Studies
University of Dhaka
Lecture 4
Feminization of Poverty
The term "feminization of poverty" was first used
by
Diana
Pearce
in
1976
following
her
observation
of
women
among
women
in
America. She observed that two thirds of the
poor were women over the age of 16 and an
increasingly
large
number
were
from
the
economically disadvantaged groups (Strahan,
1993).
The discourse on "feminization of poverty" holds
that as a result of recession and reduced public
spending
by
governments,
women
are
increasingly represented among the world's poor
(Pearce, 1978).
Feminization of Poverty
Cont……
Women and economic development are at the
core of the discourse on feminization of poverty.
The notion that poverty has only recently been
feminized has been challenged on the grounds
that
traditionally women have always been
poorer than men but that they have been
ignored for decades Payne, 1991).
The high visibility of poor women as a result of
changing demographics (single parent families;
female-headed households) makes it easier for
women to be counted although, the extent of
their poverty still remains hidden.
Defining Poverty
Spicker (1999:157) defines poverty as
consisting
of
"serious
deprivation"
where people are conceived to be poor
when their "material circumstances are
deemed to be morally unacceptable".
The topic "feminization of poverty"
calls for an analysis into the definition
of poverty and
an understanding of
the way it is experienced by women.
Defining Poverty
Cont…….
The experience of poverty shows that it is
multi-dimensional and is affected by gender
and age as well as cultural, social and
economic factors (Spicker, 1999).
Firstly, it is important to commence with the
knowledge that many factors converge to
make poverty a complex, multi-dimensional
phenomena (Spicker, 1999).
Essentially it is
defined as a lack of necessary material
items for the physical well-being of people,
such as food, shelter, land etc.
Defining Poverty
Cont…
….
The lack of material items results in
physical deprivation which also reveal
important psychological aspects as well.
Poor people are acutely aware of their
voicelessness, powerlessness and lack of
independence.
Poverty has the tendency to expose
people to humiliation, rudeness,
and
inhumane
treatment
by
public
and
private agents of service.
Defining Poverty
Cont…….
The
personal
experience
of
poverty
permeates all aspects of an individual's life
including his/her
family and community.
