The Role of Women in Development

1. The Role of Women in Development

2. Capitalism and women What is Capitalism’s effect on the role of women in the world? • lose control of the means of production • (ex: wage laborers) • Undermines large, extended family groups • now nuclear families • release men of ties to extended family • Patrilocality of the workforce • Single parent household • Movement of industry to the periphery • Structural adjustment programs removing state support for social programs disproportionately affect women.

3. What is gender and what does it define? • Culturally defined role in a society • Defines: • Power • Social role • Economic role • Political role • Labor

4. How does gender affect women’s health? • Little control over reproduction • selective abortions / infanticide • Less food – malnutrition • Less health care • Lack of safe sex • Low contraception use • Domestic violence

5. Feminization of Poverty • Gender inequality and poverty closely linked • Women traditionally more impoverished • both developing & developed countries • Women lack control over resources • physical & sexual abuse • limited medical care • high fertility • high maternal & infant death rates • poor nutrition • poor health • abandonment

6. How do you solve problems related to issues of gender inequality and poverty • Empowerment of women • powerless gain greater control over: • resources • self-confidence • decision making on equal basis with men • Where do women have power?

7. How do you empower women? • Education • “Educate a man and you educate an individual, educate a woman and you educate generations” • Reproductive Rights • Changing family dynamics • Smaller families, share responsibility • Equal participation in politics • Employment/business • grant loans to poor women • income, status, decision-making, skills, self-confidence