Gender and Poverty SIPU ITP, 2011 Anja Taarup Nordlund

Deconstructing…. Poverty Multidimensional concept – Lack of choices – Lack of power – Lack of resources Gender Equality A goal for equal – Rights – Possibilities – Responsibilities Gender – Social construction, ideas of what it means to be a man or a women – Empowerment Copyright GenderFocus

Gender equality a prerequisite for combating poverty! Copyright GenderFocus

OECD 2008 Studies find that if better use were made of the world’s female human capital: 1) economic growth would increase in all countries; 2) the number of people living in poverty would decline in all countries; 3) fertility rates would rise in OECD countries and decline in non-OECD countries; 4) business performance and innovation would be enhanced; 5) the cost-effectiveness of health care and social programmes would be raised; 6) government policies would better respond to the needs of all citizens; and 7) environmental damage from unsustainable activities would decrease. Copyright GenderFocus

BUT a gender perspective on poverty… Tendency to consider women as objectives and victims. Not so simple! Copyright GenderFocus

Myths That women HH are the poorest of the poor Feminization of poverty = – That no of women are growing or – that more women among the poor – Woman = poor There is no research evidence at a global level. Possible at a local level. But YES, discrimination of women and poverty is different for women, which is not considered. Copyright GenderFocus

A gender perspective on poverty Lack of resources Lack of possibilities Lack of power Copyright GenderFocus Who has the resources?? Time, land, income.. Who has power in HH, community..? Who has access to education, health, income.. Economic power, social power, political …..

Poverty and gender implies that Poverty has differentiated impact on men and women, girls and boys. To consider different needs, possibilities, resources and power between men and women means fighting poverty. Copyright GenderFocus

Thank you! Carolina Johansson Wennerholm Copyright GenderFocus

Other aspects of poverty… Violence Migration Climate Change Copyright GenderFocus

Poverty Lack ofHealthEducationHuman rights LivelihoodsOther…. Power Resources Possibilities Copyright GenderFocus