Feminization of Poverty

Feminization of poverty describes a phenomenon in which women represent disproportionate percentages of the world’s poor. UNIFEM describes it as "the burden of poverty borne by women, especially in developing countries". This concept is not only a consequence of lack of income, but is also the result of the deprivation of capabilities and gender biases present in both societies and governments. This includes the poverty of choices and opportunities, such as the ability to lead a long, healthy, and creative life, and enjoy basic rights like freedom, respect, and dignity. Women’s increasing share of poverty is related to the rising incidence of lone mother households. The term feminization of poverty itself is controversial and has been defined in many different ways. In 1978, Diana Pearce coined the term, “the feminization of poverty” after doing much research and seeing how many women struggled with poverty within the United States, as well as globally. According to Pearce’s research, two-thirds of the poor that were over age 16 were women.