1. Marriage and Money: Widows in India

2. Current Conditions Marriage and Money: Widows in India Viviane Dalles

3. Setting the Stage —For many women, their economic status is tied to their marital status —Widows are uniquely vulnerable to poverty —50% of the estimated 100 million widows in the developing world are impoverished Widows in India

4. —India produces 12% of the world’s cotton —60 million people depend on the cotton and textile industries —Many farmers borrowed heavily to buy expensive genetically modified seeds —Unable to pay debts and support their families, thousands of farmers have committed suicide Widows in India Viviane Dalles

5. Widows in India Ask Yourself —What are the implications, positive and negative, when a woman’s economic well-being is tied to her marital status? Viviane Dalles

6. Vijaya, age 22. Photo credit: Viviane Dalles

7. Lalitha, age 24 Photo credit: Viviane Dalles

8. Proposed Solutions —All women should have access to education, good jobs and support for domestic duties —Provide systemic support for widows —Societies need to support the economic rights and empowerment of all women Widows in India

9. Learn More at www.imow.org Essay: Karen Offen Podcast: Peace Musiimenta Interview: Heather Ibrahim-Leathers Video: family law reform in Morocco Widows in India

10. What You Can Do Make a donation to The Loomba Foundation Campaign against dowry with SACHET Spread the word about this issue Widows in India

11. Follow us online www.imow.org facebook.com/InternationalMuseumofWomen twitter.com/IMOWomen Widows in India