Missing Dimensions, Hidden Poverty Women and Empowerment Jeni Klugman Symposium on Ultra-Poverty George Washington University March 23, 2012

Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Multidimensional poverty encompasses several important dimensions of interest that can be especially important for women and girls  Indicators with observed gender differences  Years of schooling  Child school attendance  Child mortality  Child nutrition  Asset ownership  Indicators with different impacts by gender but measured at the household level  Electricity  Improved sanitation  Safe drinking water  Flooring  Cooking fuel

Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty But multidimensional poverty still misses major dimensions, including those which are  not observed and not measured  observed but not measured  not captured the attention, yet, of policy makers and researchers  Overlapping disparities aggravate this neglect – especially for the ultra poor

Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions  Missing women  Almost 4 million missing women each year

Missing women Source: WDR, 2012 China and India1,249,000222,000284,000 Sub-Saharan Africa53,000203,000751,000 Total1,427,000617,0001,347,000

Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions  Missing women  Almost 4 million missing women each year  Missing time  Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing

Missing time Source: WDR, 2012

Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions  Missing women  Almost 4 million missing women each year  Missing time  Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing  Missing rights  In 48 countries women have restrictions on their autonomy

Missing rights Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012

Missing rights Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012 Jordan Get a job Be head of household Confer citizenship on her children Convey citizenship to her non- national spouse Apply for a passport Choose where to live share legal responsibility for financial expenses Women need permission from their husbands to:

Missing rights Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012 Sudan Get a job Be “head of household” Travel outside the home Convey citizenship to her non- national spouse Apply for a passport Choose where to live share legal responsibility for financial expenses Travel outside the country Women need permission from their husbands to:

Missing Gender Dimensions for Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions  Missing women  Almost 4 million missing women each year  Missing time  Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing  Missing rights  In 48 countries women have some restrictions on their autonomy  Missing awareness about domestic violence  In countries like Ethiopia, half of women report being abused

Domestic violence: Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012 Percentage women abused Japan (Yokohama) Brazil (Sao Paulo) Bangladesh (Matlab) Ethiopia (Butajira) 13% 27% 42% 49% 246,000 women

New findings on the realities of empowerment and disempowerment Source: Muñoz, Petesch, and Turk, World Bank forthcoming 2012  Women are participating more than ever in the economic, political, and civic life of their communities:  In 28 of the 97 communities, women were standing as their elected leaders.  Faster institutional change and relaxation of gender norms in urban contexts and where better access to markets—associated with urban women's initiatives, both individual and collective “Everybody uses cell phones, even market women and all. For example, when their goods come, the person will just call them.” --Young woman, Liberia”  Yet pace of change uneven, and persistent gaps "This word [freedom] is not used for women. I may have freedom as a woman but if I want to go out and dance, my husband will give me a black eye. Freedom is when there is no restriction." --A village woman, Mongar, Bhutan "If you have little power, rich people exploit you and there is nothing you can do. You just have to accept whatever they give you for the sake of your children." --A village woman, Vumengazi, South Africa

Key interdependencies  Sometimes there are positive synergies, but in many communities, men felt uncertain about their roles in society "I had worked in Zastava [a factory] for 24 years. Then I was fired. I automatically lost everything. I lost any freedom and power I had. Everything was lost." Urban man, Licika, Serbia “[In response to job loss], men would get very frustrated, get very upset, get drunk, beat the wife.” Adult man, Papua New Guinea  Difficult situations seem to create opportunities for women to assume new roles, while men really struggle to carry out their gender-ascribed roles  However, also creates stress and sexist behavior, and competition for roles and resources Complexity about missing dimensions, especially in contexts of change. Source: Muñoz, Petesch, and Turk, World Bank forthcoming 2012

Ways Ahead - Data  Challenges:  Limited domains: Dearth of data – particularly for economic opportunity and empowerment.  Of 65 countries reviewed, only 8 had information on land ownership. Evidence on consumer and productive durables, livestock, assets, is even more limited.  Building capacity of national statistical agencies: Of the 71 low income countries with national statistical development strategies, few explicitly focus on gender mainstreaming.  Funding: Funding is needed to enable national statistical agencies collect, process, and disseminate gender-relevant data.  Areas where the World Bank is working include:  World Bank’s Open Data Initiative - E-Atlas for Gender and 2011 Little Data Book on Gender  Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey on Agriculture– supporting governments in 6 sub-Saharan African countries  Interagency and Expert Group on Gender Statistics – building statistical capacity in countries

Ways ahead - Work on agency  Priority areas  Enhancing women’s voice in fertility decisions – improving access and quality of services, as well as bargaining power in household  Reproductive Health Action Plan:  Reducing domestic violence - expanding support services for victims and strengthening legislation, enforcement and access to justice  Learning on Gender and Conflict in Africa (LOGiCA)  The Hive: A Knowledge Platform on Fragility, Conflict and Violence  Increasing social and political participation – education, changing beliefs about women’s leadership and enabling social movements  DRC, supporting the economic empowerment of women through involvement in Village Savings and Loan Associations