Twenty Years of Theorization – Lending a Foucauldian and Bourdieuian Lens - Article by Tannistha Sarkar

 

I am Poushali pal, currently pursuing a Master's in Sociology at the Adamas University. My academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, where I was awarded the Gold Medal for archiving the highest CGPA. During my bachelor's, I have conducted research on Hegemonic Masculinity and Femininity among the School Students.In my postgraduation, I have conducted research on Marital Choices and Alternative form of Marriage, and The Influence of Korean Dramas on the Youth Groups. I am deeply passionate about Gender Studies, Contemporary Socio-Cultural Issues, and Cultural Studies. 

Feminization of poverty

Poverty is a national and international social problem. Women tend to be most vulnerable to poverty. Diana Pearce first used the term “feminization of poverty” in 1976. When she observed the women of America, she observed that most poor were women aged 16 and belonged to economically disadvantaged groups.

The economy and women are the core areas of discussion of the feminization of poverty.  The notion that poverty has only been feminized has been challenged because traditionally women have always been poorer than men. The high visibility of poor women is due to the changing demographics (single-parent families; female-headed households).

The “feminization of poverty” is analysed into the definition of poverty and also an understanding of the way women experience it. The fundamental conceptualization of feminization of poverty from a feminist perspective is that women suffer discrimination because of their sex, and their special needs largely remain neglected and unsatisfied. The feminization of poverty can be discussed further from the three major perspectives: -

a)     Women, work, and the family.

b)     Women’s right to reproductive autonomy.

c)     Women and economic development.

Women, works, and the family:

Women's position in society is dictated by the various roles they play. Women have the dual responsibility of maintaining the household and workplace. Mostly, women spend more working hours than men. However, their work is not calculated in terms of monetary gain or contribution to economic development. Much of the women’s work especially included child rearing, domestic and other household work. Women in developing countries do a greater deal of unpaid subsistence work such as carrying water and firewood, doing food gardening, and housework. Female-headed households are commonly found among the poor families. Many researchers argued that women who faced deprivation insist on living in a family above the poverty lines.

There is an encompassing nature of gender division of labour to understanding the underlying and immediate causes of poverty. One of the most pertinent factors in the feminization of poverty is the system of social security and its accessibility to the most vulnerable families.

Women’s rights to reproductive autonomy:

Women’s reproductive labour appears to be like their household and childcare chores. According to the GEAR (growth, employment, and redistribution) women’s reproductive labour, ultimately leads to the invisibility of their positions and their contributions to the economy. The exploitation of female and child labour will continue to reinforce the feminization of poverty. Neo-Malthusian analysis that women’s poverty is to women’s fertility. Hence it is assumed that pregnancy is fundamental to women’s poverty and powerlessness. Therefore, fertility control is estimated to be the primary solution to poverty and women’s empowerment. Many feminists have advocated for the control of women’s fertility as one of the most important solutions to the problem of feminization of poverty. The new reproductive rights are made for improved quality of services for women’s health and the increasing feminization of poverty has been noted to coincide with legalized abortion.

Women and economic development:

The phenomenon of feminization of poverty is confined not only to women in developing countries but also in industrialized and developing countries the relationship between gender and economic stratification. Women and economic development are at the core of the discourse on feminization of poverty. The difference between male and female poverty is that for men poverty is often a consequence of unemployment but for women, it is much more complex as other factors such as family commitments are critical issues. Female-dominated jobs or careers have a lower earning capacity. Where it is believed that masculine traits are required for a job higher salary and prestige are assigned to it and vice versa. Jobs that are predominantly female are presumed to have lesser degrees of competency.

In addition, the unequal status and lack of equity in remuneration for work, women faced the hurdle of the ‘glass- ceiling’ concept which is an invisible barrier that prevents women from rising past a certain point, this is related to the gender bias in jobs. This makes them economically lower than men. Thus, the situation led to poverty.

Eradicating feminized poverty:

·       The eradication of poverty is dependent on socio-economic change. Policy changes that deal with institutionalized gender inequality impact the quality of life for many women. The eradication of feminization of poverty has a specific focus on the status of women in society. The three major  perspectives under which feminization of poverty has been conceptualized emphasized the ideological changes that promote equality and create opportunities for economic empowerment of women through socio-economic reform.

 

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