Feminisation of poverty

Women are yet to attain freedom from the patriarchal setup, says Eshita Singh

Poverty is not just a lack of income and the inability to purchase, it is a deeply-rooted multifaceted complex structure comprising economic, social, demographic, cultural, political, and psychological factors.

• Feminisation of Poverty and Responsibilities

More women are affected by poverty as compared to males. This has not happened overnight. The condition of women in poor families is pathetic. Along with all the other responsibilities, they carry the financial burden of raising their children along with helping other family members. They get minimal financial support from their family members. Sometimes their close family members are their worst foes.

• Feminisation of lack of education, malnutrition and poor healthcare

Most families in the low-income group have many children due to a lack of awareness and absence of any responsibility towards themselves and the nation. So, they can’t afford education and well-being of all their children equally. They prefer to invest their limited resources into providing nutrition and education to their male child . The girl carries the burden of this malnutrition and illiteracy throughout her life.

Social factors such as gender inequality, dowry, female foeticide, illiteracy, lack of sanitisation, malnutrition and more are the result of of the prevalent social belief that expenditure on women is useless. Women face a lack of sanitisation and poor healthcare facilities and are more prone to infection than males. A woman deserves proper hygiene during the menstrual cycle. They also need proper nutrition as they carry a child during pregnancy. Proper postnatal care is of utmost importance for the health of the mother and the baby.

• Women’s liberation: truth or illusion? Associating earning a livelihood with women’s liberation and equality is inappropriate. The achievements made by women are undervalued. With patriarchy entrenched into the core value system, women getting a share in the family inheritance is restricted or negligible.

Earning a livelihood is not enough to solve women’s problem. The struggle and deprivation they face are much more in comparison to the small amount of money they can earn. They are struggling for basic minimum survival, dignity and support from their family, society and the country. This has to change as it is damaging the basic foundation of our rich culture and heritage. Only then, can we attain freedom in the true sense.

(—The author is manager, State Bank of India, Jaipur.)