Gender is another category of classifying humans reflecting not just biological, but also social differences between men and women Gender is another category of classifying humans reflecting not just biological, but also social differences between men and women Social concepts of what is “masculine” and what is “feminine” vary across space and time Social concepts of what is “masculine” and what is “feminine” vary across space and time

In South Asia, gender is greatly complicated by class such that among the poor, women bear the greatest social and economic burden and the most suffering In South Asia, gender is greatly complicated by class such that among the poor, women bear the greatest social and economic burden and the most suffering South Asia is intensely patriarchal South Asia is intensely patriarchal India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh

The Gender Gap refers to the differences in social, economic, and political power and opportunity between men and women The Gender Gap refers to the differences in social, economic, and political power and opportunity between men and women

Patterns related to the Gender Gap Patterns related to the Gender Gap High maternal mortality rates High maternal mortality rates Death rates among women giving birth Death rates among women giving birth Indicate that women in poorer regions are 100 to 600 times more likely to die giving birth than are women in wealthier countries Indicate that women in poorer regions are 100 to 600 times more likely to die giving birth than are women in wealthier countries High female infanticide rates High female infanticide rates Murder of female infants Murder of female infants

Gender empowerment index Gender empowerment index Measures the degree of balance between male and female equity in society Measures the degree of balance between male and female equity in society These measurements are often used in assessing a country’s level of development These measurements are often used in assessing a country’s level of development The more parity between men and women = the high the level of the country’s development The more parity between men and women = the high the level of the country’s development

Education Education When girls receive an education there is an improvement in all faucets of life When girls receive an education there is an improvement in all faucets of life Suffrage Suffrage Lack of discrimination Lack of discrimination Job opportunities Job opportunities Gender empowerment Gender empowerment Population changes Population changes