To end extreme poverty, gender equality must be achieved. Evidence shows that economic shifts are possible when women and girls can access quality education, health care, sustainable livelihoods, as well as a seat at decision-making boards. Communities can no longer live in poverty. Gender inequality is a major factor in poverty perpetuation. They must all be eradicated if we are to see real progress. These are just seven examples.
1. Gender biases within education
Girls’ education has many benefits for societies and economies. Yet, 130 million girls are unlikely to ever enter a classroom. This will mean that girls won’t be able to have better lives and the same goes for their children. The children of mothers who have completed basic primary education are more likely to be able to access quality education and healthcare. These two basic building blocks are the foundation of an empowered community. These are the main obstacles girls face when it comes down to the fundamental human right of sanitation.
Zainab Thorlley (8 years), is a student at Patiful Mayeppuh SDA primary school, Tonkolil district, Sierra Leone. Concern’s Safe Learning Model Project is being used to eliminate gender-based violence at school and improve education. (Photo: Michael Duff/Concern Worldwide)
2. Gender pay gaps
Financial and economic empowerment are key to maintaining a gender balance that is not in balance. The 2020 World Economic Forum’s (WEF), report indicates that women will not receive equal pay for equal jobs if they continue to work at their current pace.
This issue is not necessarily a matter that divides high-income and lower-income countries. The WEF report puts Burundi in the same category as Austria, with an average level of progress towards closing the overall gender gaps. However Burundi actually has more success than Austria in closing gender wage gaps by nearly 30 percentage point. Rwanda, one of the 10 top countries making progress towards closing gender gaps, is still ahead of Austria in closing the wage gap.
It is important to ensure that women get equal pay and economic independence. It also means that family members will be able to access basic necessities like food, water, education, healthcare and other essential services.
Lunes Duvil is a small-business owner who has benefited in Concern’s integrated urban program “Building Hope & Opportunity in Haiti”. It was held in Cite Soleil (Port au Prince). As a result, she says that her product range has increased and her shop is now larger. (Photo: Kieran McConville)
3. Gender disparities in agriculture
Women account for nearly half of all farmers. Why? Gender disparity.
According to reports, women are less likely to have access essential tools and resources such as fertiliser, seeds and training. They often don’t get equal income access even though they have equal access. As primary caregivers of their children, women often struggle to get their products to the market, especially in rural settings. Low harvests and less access means lower income. This is especially true in rural areas where women are more likely to reinvest the earnings into their families or their community. Everyone loses when women earn less.
We joined the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance because we understood this fundamental question. Alliance’s main objective is to empower women farmers and increase their productivity. Over 3,000 women were trained and provided with seeds and tools for backyard gardening in northern Ethiopia last year. The aim was to help them diversify their food and the diets of their family members. They were able to grow plants that are appropriate for their environment, and they also had the ability to combat malnutrition. They managed to cover over 485 hectares.
Esime Jenaia, a lead farmer for conservation agriculture, on her plot at Chituke Village in Mangochi (Malawi). Accenture Ireland assisted Concern with its Conservation Agriculture program in Malawi, which began in 2012. (Photo: Kieran McConville / Concern Worldwide)
4. Access to healthcare is difficult
It’s not surprising that those living in poverty are less likely to have access to high-quality healthcare. However, poverty is more than a symptom. It can also be a cause.
This is especially true if you are a woman or a girl, as female mortality rates are high due to gender inequalities. Nearly 1,000 women are killed each day from complications that can be prevented by having a child or during pregnancy. A combination of the untimely deaths of so many mothers and the chronic lack of healthcare can have devastating effects on families as well as communities. Children of sick mothers have a lower chance of accessing healthcare. Additionally, older children may be forced to quit school to help younger siblings.
Concern works daily with communities around the globe to change this sad story. Chipatala Cha Pa Foni has been an example of how Concern can help communities to improve their home-based care.
The Lake Chad region’s barren landscape. To seek medical attention or clean water, families must endure the heat for hours. (Photo by Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide
5. High cost of collecting water
Water is simply a woman’s problem. Globally, over 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. UNICEF reports that girls and women spend an average of 200 million hours per day sourcing water. This time could be used to help them in school, at work, and in their businesses. One study has shown that school attendance increases by up to 12% when water is available within 15 minute of home. Each minute a woman spends collecting water is time that she could have spent saving money or earning it.
6. Early marriage and other gender-based forms of maltreatment
UNICEF claims that over 700 million women are married today before they turn 18. Over a third, or 250 million, of those married before age 15. This compares to the 156 millions of boys who married before 18 years old. It’s obvious that child marriage is more harmful for girls than for boys. What is the link between child marriage and poverty? It is less likely that girls marry young and receive a good education. Child brides are more likely to be discriminated against, abused, and die early.
One form of violence against girls and women is forced and early marriage. These include violence against sexuality, female genitals mutilation, human trafficking, and the execution of honour killings. Gender-based Violence (GBV) is any form of violence that teaches that men and women can be treated differently. These stereotypes are based on the gender of each culture. These harmful practices may continue, but women’s right to self-determination will not change.
7. Inadequate representation at policy level for girls and women
Legislation and public policy cannot be created in an equitable way if women are excluded. For example, consider the inability to recognize domestic and unpaid work. Consider, for example, the lack of recognition for unpaid care and domestic work. Or, consider the more severe threats women face daily based solely on their gender.
UN estimates that 1 million victims of GBV/assault have been left in Democratic Republic of Congo after decades of conflict. Domestic violence has been reported as a major problem for up to 52% (or more) of DRC women. Nearly 40% of women in the DRC reported having been threatened or hurt. Through our Graduation program, we work with marginalised and extremely poor households in Tanganyika Province. This programme builds sustainable livelihoods one by one. It is crucial that women play an active role in decision-making in their own homes and within their communities. According to our annual community survey, two-thirds of respondents said that women have more involvement in decision-making. This is a small but significant step towards gender equality in DRC.
Concern and Equality of Genders
Gender equality is Goal 5 in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that the United Nations has set for 2030. Concern’s approach focuses on reducing gender disparity. These causes are often similar to those that cause global hunger and poverty.
