Feminization of poverty is the occurrence in which women represent a higher percentage of the world’s poor population (Boundless, 2016). It can also be defined as the burden of poverty borne by women, more so in the developing world. The occurrence is not only as a result of lack of income, but a lack of chances due to gender partialities and rigid gender roles in most societies. In most cases, gender partialities deny women the chance to autonomously pursue education and careers. The partialities are also connected to the fact that women are expected bear children and take the responsibility of their up-bring. Additionally, the ever increasing share of poverty by women has also been related to the rising numbers of single mother homesteads.
It is important to note that there are many factors that put women at a risk of poverty than men (Boundless, 2016). For instance, the major factor is the lack of or low income. Many other secondary problems emanate from this major factor; for example, women lack basic needs due to low income, low income edges their chances for advancement, and also low income prevents women from basic healthcare and education. As a result, their lifetime earning potential is lowered.
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The topic generally informs the society on the sources of women's increasing share of poverty. It also informs the society on the dangers of gender biases as well as the negativity of fixed gender roles to the society as a whole. And finally, it gives a leeway to how this phenomenon can be dealt with. As such, the significance of this topic to the society cannot be underestimated.
Literature Review
According to Ezeala-Harrison F. (2010), Feminization of poverty is an idea that dates back to 1970s, yet it started trending in the 1990s in a few of the U.N. documentations. He asserts that concept of the feminization of poverty become popular due to a result study was done by Diane Pearce; which highlighted on the gender patterns in the advancement of poverty rates in the U.S within the 1950s and the mid-1970s (Ezeala-Harrison, 2010). Previously, the term feminization was used to refer to an increase of women among the poor as well as an increase in a number of women headed homesteads amongst the poor.
There are many causes of the feminization of poverty. According to a research done by Shisana and others (2010), gender inequality was identified as the number one driver in putting women at a higher chance of poverty as compared to their male counterparts (Shisana, 2010). They contend that gender inequality disfavored women in getting opportunities to pursue education and careers on their own. Additionally, they pointed out that fixed gender roles in some societies across the world equally deprived women chances for advancement in their education and careers.
Peterson on the other hand, through research he established that low income was the main cause of women poverty across the globe (Peterson, 2016). He asserts that many interrelated causes emanate from this low-income factor. In fact, low-income limits women to basic needs such as shelter and food; it also limits their chances of advancing. In a research done to establish the relationship between low income and infection of HIV/AIDs, it was found out that those females with low or without cash were significantly more likely to contract HIV than the males without cash (Shisana, 2010). As such, female-headed homesteads (especially young female) are more likely to be poor as well as more likely to be HIV positive. It is evident that women, especially the young women are likely to live in poverty, thus much attention should be paid to them, more so those who head homesteads, in terms of prevention and poverty alleviation.
Conflict Theory and Feminization of Poverty
The conflict theory derives its explanation on the feminization of poverty from stratification which was Karl Marx's view of class societies. According to Karl Marx stratification emanates from the struggle of needs between the haves and the have-nots in the society (Kerbo, 2012). In this case, the haves represent the powerful males whereas the have-nots represent the weak females. The haves take advantage of their status in the society to suppress the have-nots. Basically, conflict theory attributes stratification (poverty) to lack of opportunity due to discrimination, and biases against the women. Due to discrimination and denial of opportunity to women in education and in employment, women have continued to wallow in poverty as each day passes by.
Conclusion
It is true to say that women dominate the poverty category all over the world, more especially in the developing world. Their continued dominance in the world's poor is not by coincidence but rather by discrimination against them, gender inequalities as well as rigid gender roles in various societies. As a result, they have not gotten time to exploit their potentials to the maximum. Additionally, the research articles in the review have provided evidenced information as they are based on studies done on various parts to establish the increasing percentage of women in the world's poor. Thus, the articles information is justifiable and conclusive.
Reference
Boundless. (2016). “The Feminization of Poverty.” Boundless Sociology . Boundless. Retrieved 18 Nov. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/stratification-inequality-and-social-class-in-the-u-s-9/poverty-78/the-feminization-of-poverty-467-8242/
Ezeala-Harrison, F. (June 12, 2010). Black feminization of poverty: evidence from the U.S. cross-regional data. The Journal of Developing Areas, 44, 1, 149-166.
Kerbo, H. R. (2012). Social stratification and inequality . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Peterson, J. (January 05, 2016). The Feminization of Poverty. Journal of Economic Issues, 21, 1,329-337.
Shisana, O., Rice, K., Zungu, N., & Zuma, K. (January 01, 2010). Gender and poverty in South Africa in the era of HIV/AIDS: a quantitative study. Journal of Women's Health (2002), 19, 1, 39-46.
