The document discusses the feminization of poverty due to globalization and neoliberal economic policies. It makes three key points:
1) Globalization and structural adjustment programs have led to an increase in precarious informal work like sweatshops with few labor protections, especially impacting women.
2) This has contributed to a "feminization" of poverty, as women make up a large portion of the lowest-paid informal workforce. They face discrimination, low wages, and lack social security.
3) To address this, feminist economists argue for policies that promote women's rights and entitlements, including stronger social protections, welfare benefits, and more inclusive development policies that empower women economically.
Poverty & concept of ‘feminisation of poverty’ poverty & human capabilities ...VIBHUTI PATEL
Universalisatio n of Education (UE)
UE was launched in 2000 with the primary objective of achieving Universalization of elementary education before 2010 with time bound integrated approach in participation with the states. The project aimed at completion of five years of primary schooling for all children by 2007 and completion of eight years of schooling by 2010 along with reduction of gender and social gaps. The expenditure was to be shared in the basis of 85:15 in the ninth plan and 75:25 from the tenth plan onwards. The SSA wanted to bring about the change in the following areas: Teacher training, improvement in quality of education, provision of teacher training materials, establishment of cluster groups for support and education guarantee centers.
Feminization of Poverty: Causes, Consequences & RecommendationsMasum Hussain
Women’s purportedly disproportionate and rising share of poverty - as encapsulated in the widely popularised term the ‘feminisation of poverty’ – has conferred unprecedented prominence upon gender in poverty analysis and policy. However, the ‘feminisation of poverty’ is often used in a cursory and unsubstantiated manner and, in its implicit privileging of income, does not necessarily highlight aspects of poverty which are most relevant to poor women at the grassroots. Although the UNDP’s gender indices go some way to reflecting broader aspects of gendered poverty, particularly in respect of capabilities and opportunities, there is scope for improvement. In the interests of working towards gender indices which are more responsive to crucial gender gaps in poverty (understood not only as income deficiency, but in a more multidimensional fashion, and which give weight to the onus of dealing with poverty), the main aims of this paper are three-fold. The first is to draw attention to existing conceptual and methodological weaknesses with the ‘feminisation of poverty’. The second is to offer some thoughts on how the ‘feminisation of poverty’ could be re-cast to more effectively capture trends in gendered privation among the poor. The third is to propose directions for the kinds of data and indicators which might be incorporated within the GDI or GEM, or used in the creation of a Gendered Poverty Index (GPI).
Poverty & concept of ‘feminisation of poverty’ poverty & human capabilities ...VIBHUTI PATEL
Universalisatio n of Education (UE)
UE was launched in 2000 with the primary objective of achieving Universalization of elementary education before 2010 with time bound integrated approach in participation with the states. The project aimed at completion of five years of primary schooling for all children by 2007 and completion of eight years of schooling by 2010 along with reduction of gender and social gaps. The expenditure was to be shared in the basis of 85:15 in the ninth plan and 75:25 from the tenth plan onwards. The SSA wanted to bring about the change in the following areas: Teacher training, improvement in quality of education, provision of teacher training materials, establishment of cluster groups for support and education guarantee centers.
Feminization of Poverty: Causes, Consequences & RecommendationsMasum Hussain
Women’s purportedly disproportionate and rising share of poverty - as encapsulated in the widely popularised term the ‘feminisation of poverty’ – has conferred unprecedented prominence upon gender in poverty analysis and policy. However, the ‘feminisation of poverty’ is often used in a cursory and unsubstantiated manner and, in its implicit privileging of income, does not necessarily highlight aspects of poverty which are most relevant to poor women at the grassroots. Although the UNDP’s gender indices go some way to reflecting broader aspects of gendered poverty, particularly in respect of capabilities and opportunities, there is scope for improvement. In the interests of working towards gender indices which are more responsive to crucial gender gaps in poverty (understood not only as income deficiency, but in a more multidimensional fashion, and which give weight to the onus of dealing with poverty), the main aims of this paper are three-fold. The first is to draw attention to existing conceptual and methodological weaknesses with the ‘feminisation of poverty’. The second is to offer some thoughts on how the ‘feminisation of poverty’ could be re-cast to more effectively capture trends in gendered privation among the poor. The third is to propose directions for the kinds of data and indicators which might be incorporated within the GDI or GEM, or used in the creation of a Gendered Poverty Index (GPI).
Economics Of Gender Equity And Development.kollasravanthi
70% of world’s extreme poor are women.
In India Women contribute:
41% of Agriculture GDP
32% of work force.
Achievement of human development depends on Empowerment of the 586 million women of India (forming 48.46%) -2011 census most of them rural.
This PPT is about some social problems of India like corruption, child lobour, female foeticide, infanticide, poverty, malnutrition, dowery etc. and their causes, present status, consequences and preventive measures
Gender perspective on glo, commu & demoVIBHUTI PATEL
Economic Globalisation and Women’s Movement
During the last one decade, women’s movement in India has faced sharper polarisation due to rise of cultural nationalism, that uses women to score points for identity politics, coupled with economic liberalisation that is wooing the elite women and breaking the backs of the working class women.
In response to imposition of structural adjustment programme (SAP) and stabilization policies at the behest of International Monitory Institute, women’s movements across the national boundaries have been debating various strategies and tactics of transforming the Neo-liberal Development Paradigm. World Social Forum and Regional Social Fora have provided democratic platforms for reflections on a just, sustainable & caring Global Economy. These deliberations have convinced us that Another World is Possible and globalisation also bears the promise and possibilities of furthering women’s rights and well-being. Gender sensitive strategic thinking can address practical and strategic gender needs of women. For example, more women in more areas of economic activities can be gainfully and justly employed. Information technology can enable women throughout the globe to share strategies and successes for stress-free and safe life. We should not forget that there is north in the South and there is south in the North. So we must strive for global solidarity and sisterhood of all women who are oppressed and exploited, degraded and dehumanised by the patriarchal class structure.
Feminization of Poverty: Causes, Consequences & Recommendations (A Study at S...Masum Hussain
Women’s purportedly disproportionate and rising share of poverty - as encapsulated in the widely popularised term the ‘feminisation of poverty’ – has conferred unprecedented prominence upon gender in poverty analysis and policy. However, the ‘feminisation of poverty’ is often used in a cursory and unsubstantiated manner and, in its implicit privileging of income, does not necessarily highlight aspects of poverty which are most relevant to poor women at the grassroots. Although the UNDP’s gender indices go some way to reflecting broader aspects of gendered poverty, particularly in respect of capabilities and opportunities, there is scope for improvement. In the interests of working towards gender indices which are more responsive to crucial gender gaps in poverty (understood not only as income deficiency, but in a more multidimensional fashion, and which give weight to the onus of dealing with poverty), the main aims of this paper are three-fold. The first is to draw attention to existing conceptual and methodological weaknesses with the ‘feminisation of poverty’. The second is to offer some thoughts on how the ‘feminisation of poverty’ could be re-cast to more effectively capture trends in gendered privation among the poor. The third is to propose directions for the kinds of data and indicators which might be incorporated within the GDI or GEM, or used in the creation of a Gendered Poverty Index (GPI).
Economics Of Gender Equity And Development.kollasravanthi
70% of world’s extreme poor are women.
In India Women contribute:
41% of Agriculture GDP
32% of work force.
Achievement of human development depends on Empowerment of the 586 million women of India (forming 48.46%) -2011 census most of them rural.
This PPT is about some social problems of India like corruption, child lobour, female foeticide, infanticide, poverty, malnutrition, dowery etc. and their causes, present status, consequences and preventive measures
Gender perspective on glo, commu & demoVIBHUTI PATEL
Economic Globalisation and Women’s Movement
During the last one decade, women’s movement in India has faced sharper polarisation due to rise of cultural nationalism, that uses women to score points for identity politics, coupled with economic liberalisation that is wooing the elite women and breaking the backs of the working class women.
In response to imposition of structural adjustment programme (SAP) and stabilization policies at the behest of International Monitory Institute, women’s movements across the national boundaries have been debating various strategies and tactics of transforming the Neo-liberal Development Paradigm. World Social Forum and Regional Social Fora have provided democratic platforms for reflections on a just, sustainable & caring Global Economy. These deliberations have convinced us that Another World is Possible and globalisation also bears the promise and possibilities of furthering women’s rights and well-being. Gender sensitive strategic thinking can address practical and strategic gender needs of women. For example, more women in more areas of economic activities can be gainfully and justly employed. Information technology can enable women throughout the globe to share strategies and successes for stress-free and safe life. We should not forget that there is north in the South and there is south in the North. So we must strive for global solidarity and sisterhood of all women who are oppressed and exploited, degraded and dehumanised by the patriarchal class structure.
Feminization of Poverty: Causes, Consequences & Recommendations (A Study at S...Masum Hussain
Women’s purportedly disproportionate and rising share of poverty - as encapsulated in the widely popularised term the ‘feminisation of poverty’ – has conferred unprecedented prominence upon gender in poverty analysis and policy. However, the ‘feminisation of poverty’ is often used in a cursory and unsubstantiated manner and, in its implicit privileging of income, does not necessarily highlight aspects of poverty which are most relevant to poor women at the grassroots. Although the UNDP’s gender indices go some way to reflecting broader aspects of gendered poverty, particularly in respect of capabilities and opportunities, there is scope for improvement. In the interests of working towards gender indices which are more responsive to crucial gender gaps in poverty (understood not only as income deficiency, but in a more multidimensional fashion, and which give weight to the onus of dealing with poverty), the main aims of this paper are three-fold. The first is to draw attention to existing conceptual and methodological weaknesses with the ‘feminisation of poverty’. The second is to offer some thoughts on how the ‘feminisation of poverty’ could be re-cast to more effectively capture trends in gendered privation among the poor. The third is to propose directions for the kinds of data and indicators which might be incorporated within the GDI or GEM, or used in the creation of a Gendered Poverty Index (GPI).
Fr. Gregory Gay CM - Address to Ladies of Charity National Assembly.Famvin Europe
Fr. Gregory Gay CM, Superior General of the Congregation of the MIssion was a keynote speaker on the 12th Annual National Assembly of the Ladies of Charity USA held in Bethesda, MD, Friday, September 14. The speech reflects on the Assembly' theme “Giving in Faith and Love”
“Create, Nurture, Grow” projects a mix of feminine and masculine qualities and a dynamic vision for aquaculture. How well is this agreeably gendered image of aquaculture supported by the actual participation of women and men? Increasingly, aquaculture will need to prove its credentials on social responsibility, of which gender is a critical social dimension. In most aquaculture value chains, little research on gender and gender equality has been conducted, resulting in a poor base of knowledge from which to build a policy and action, and allowing opinion and pre-conceived positions to rule. A gender lens, which takes gender into account when examining the roles, powers, rights and relationships of people in aquaculture, is needed. A gender lens not only helps to understand the status of women in the sector, but also provides evidence on how to improve the outcomes for all people in the value chain.
To illustrate how gendered analysis of value chains can provide knowledge to guide socially responsible production, this presentation examines two aquaculture value chains –Vietnam shrimp destined for international markets, and mussels grown for the local market in Kerala, India. Because they are new and developing rapidly, these value chains are influenced but not bound totally by existing cultural conditions and economic structures.
In the Vietnam shrimp value chain, the major forces have been external markets, the environment and shrimp disease. The scale of operations has a major impact on social and economic outcomes and on gender roles and relationships. The evolution of the value chain towards industrial scale export enterprises has also created risks for small and medium scale enterprises, who must grow and/or cope. Women and men are both affected but tend to adopt different coping strategies. As scale increases, the work within the value chain tends to become more gender differentiated.
In Kerala mussel farming, domestic welfare movements and resources, such as the Self Help Groups and research-driven technology, have helped initiate the industry. In a rare development, women have been the major actors in what has become very profitable farming but individual and family farms also operate. Despite and because of the early success of mussel farming, second phase issues which have gender implications are arising, especially over the access to rights over farming sites, investments in new technology to grow the businesses and product quality assurance. Whereas the first phase was well supported by a highly gendered processes directed towards women’s welfare, the mussel value chain is likely to evolve a much different gender and ownership structure.
From these cases, conclusions and recommendations can be drawn to help aquaculture institutions and operators become more gender equitable and more socially responsible.
Childbirth, labour, delivery, birth, partus, or parturition is the culmination of a pregnancy period with the expulsion of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus. The process of normal childbirth is categorized in three stages of labour: the shortening and dilation of the cervix, descent and birth of the infant, and birth of the placenta.
Used for MBA professional accounting class room presentation and it includes FASB rules and forex currency dealings details for purchase and sale of goods and services with foreign party.
ReadySetPresent (Gender Differences PowerPoint Presentation Content): 100+ PowerPoint presentation content slides. Misinterpreting gender differences can be potentially disastrous. However, understanding them, can lead to a harmonious environment both at work and at home. Gender Differences PowerPoint Presentation Content slides include topics such as: highlighting Gender and Communication Differences, how to avoid pitfalls, 6 common areas of miscommunication between genders, 6 slides on negotiation and gender, 10 slides on biological brain and health differences, 25+ slides on strengths of genders with facts and trivia, 15+ slides on managing and accommodating different genders and moving past stereotypes, 4 slides on the Parson’s model, 9 slides on women working with men, 8 slides on men working with women, and 6 slides on females in business, 10 slides on common misunderstandings and communication between spouses, interesting gender statistics and more!
Human Development and Gender Inclusive Growth
Paper presented by
Dr. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR
Prof. & HOD, University Department of Economics,
SNDT Women’s University, Smt. Thakersey Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-400020
Phone-26770227®, 22052970 Mobile-9321040048
E mail:vibhuti.np@gmail.com
Introduction
Concept of Human Development indicates that the real aim of development is to improve the quality of human life. It is a process that enables human beings to realize their potential, build self-confidence and lead lives of dignity and fulfilment. Economic growth is an important component of development, but it cannot be a goal in itself, nor can it go on indefinitely. Although people differ in the goals that they would set for development, some are virtually universal. These include a long and healthy life, education, access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living, political freedom, guaranteed human rights, and freedom from violence. Development is real only if it makes our lives better in all these respects.
Indian Women in the Labour Force
Dr. Vibhuti Patel
Reader, Centre for Women’s Studies
Department of Economics,
University of Mumbai, Kalina,
Santacruz (East), Mumbai-400098
E mail-vibhuti@vsnl.net Ph®-6770227
Ph(W)-6527956,57Ext.553,Fax-6528198
Statistical Profile of Women
• Women constitute ½ of the world’s population, 2/3 of the world’s labour force but get 1/10th of the world’s income and 1% of the world’s Wealth.
• As per 2001 Census, 23% of women are in the work force. 94% of all working women are in the informal sector.
Work participation rate
Major Findings of Time use Survey
– “Women carry a disproportionately greater burden of work than men and since women are responsible for a greater share of non-SNA
( system of National Accounts) work in the care economy , they enter labour market already overburdened with work.” Report of Gender Diagnosis and Budgeting in India of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, NIPFP. December, 2001.
WORK PARTICIPATION RATES 1991
The Female Economic Activity Rate (FEAR)
Census of India, 2001, Series 1
Distribution of Women Employees Across Industries
Women in the organized Sector
Women constitute only 14% of the total employment in the organized sector. It is concentrated in Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamilnadu.
In the urban areas, FEAR in tertiary sector has increased, from 37.6 % in 1983 to 52.9 % in 1999. (Economic Survey, 2002, GOI).
Here, women workers and employees get relatively better wages, standard working hours, and the protection of labour laws.
Women in the Informal Sector
Factors Affecting Women’s Labour Force Participation
• Changes in age-structure, urbanisation, level & nature of economic development, infrastructure, government policies, labour laws, nature of work, structure of family, culture & tradition affecting autonomy and control, fertility levels and childbearing practices, nature of housework,women’s property rights, education, age at marriage, migration, access to technology.
Segmentation in the labour market
• Nature of wage differentials (WD)-for identical tasks women are paid less. And women are confined to relatively inferior tasks, casual work.
• Causes of WD-patriarchal attitude, myths
• Effects of WD- subordination of women, son preference, man is treated as a “bread winner”- Head of the Household (HoH)
Affirmative Action to remove
Wage Differential
*Legislative measures
*Equal Remuneration Act
*Formation of women’s union
*Constitutional guarantees
*Job reservation for women
*Self Help Groups(SHGs)
Demands of the Women’s Groups
Labour Legislations
Special Facilities for Women
Women and Trade Unions(T.U.)
Women’s Action Plan for T.U.s
Role of Human Rights Organisations
Women and Development Debate
Development Alternatives With Women
Human Development With Distributive Justice
Implications of Development Process on Women
Use of conservative ideology to retrench and lay off women
Women’s Challenges to the T.U.s
Role of the UN System-ILO, UNICEF
What are the labour laws for Empowerment of women ?
Ans. 2. The labour laws for empowerment of women are based on principle of gender justice. They are as follows:
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 ensures equal opportunity, equal treatment and equal wages.
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 provides 90 days paid leave for working women
The Factories Act, 1948 – Section 34 provides that the State government can lay down rules prescribing weights that may be carried by men and women.
The Contract Labour (Abolition and Regulation) Act and Rules- separate provision of utilities for women and fixed working hours.
Women in the unorganized sector don’t get benefits of the labour laws.
‘Nothing for Us Without Us’ - Towards an economic justice framework for Susta...UNDP Policy Centre
Presentation delivered by Masego Madzwamuse (OSISA) at the Rio+20 side event on the role of civil society and knowledge institutions in sustainable development: http://www.ipc-undp.org/PageNewSiteb.do?id=274&active=2
Women constitute ½ of the world’s population, 2/3 of the world’s labour force but get 1/10th of the world’s income and 1% of the world’s Wealth.
As per 2001 Census, 23% of women are in the work force. 94% of all working women are in the informal sector.
Agnes Quisumbing, Ruth Meinzen-Dick, and Jemimah Njuki
POLICY SEMINAR
Gender Equality in Rural Africa: From Commitments to Outcomes
Co-Organized by the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) and IFPRI
DEC 12, 2019 - 12:15 PM TO 01:45 PM EST
On 1 December 2015, the final M-CARE conference was organised in Brussels, Belgium at VLEVA premises. The event “Caring for people with disabilities and older people: challenges, opportunities and (mobile/online) training solutions” focussed on the importance of good quality personal caregiving (PCG) for people with disabilities and older people. Focus was on caring in a broader perspective, and how M-CARE’s (mobile/online) training solutions can contribute to successful PCGs.
More information at:
http://mcare-project.eu/
http://twitter.com/MCareproject
http://www.facebook.com/MCareproj
This project (M-Care - 539913-LLP-1-2013-1-TR-LEONARDO-LMP) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Contemporary approach to african feminism by Prof Tal EdgarsGBSH Consult Group
A number of years have passed since the first feminists based in Africa prioritised connections between gender, imperialism and race. Since these interventions, African feminist dialogues have become increasingly less concerned with critiquing western feminism and progressively more goal oriented and pro-active. Join GBSH Consult Group Executive Chairman H.E. Prof. Dr. Ambassador Tal Edgars as he discusses the contemporary approach to African Feminism.
1. Feminisation of Poverty
Prof. Vibhuti Patel, Director, PGSR
(Head), Department of Economics
SNDT Women’s University, Smt. Nathibai Road,
Churchgate, Mumbai-400020
Mobile- 9321040048
Phone-26770227®, (O)22052970 Email-vibhuti.np@gmail.com
1
2. Globalisation
• Cheap labour to enhance super
profit
• Marked feature of neo liberal policy
is enlightened self- interest
activated through market forces.
• Coloured women and girls as the
last colony 2
3. The Asian Scenario
• South Asian (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Nepal), South East Asia (Thailand, Indonesia,
Philippines, Malaysia) countries, Indochina (Laos,
Kampuchea and Vietnam) and China is flooded with
Sweatshops, ghetto labour markets and stigmatised
migrant workers.
• To attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), ASEAN
countries have established of Special Economic
Zones, Export Processing Zones, Free Trade Zones,
Coastal Development Zones that would ensure the
labour force that is not covered by protective labour
laws and social security.
3
4. New Forms of Plunder
• Primitive accumulation in its classical form
included plunder, slavery and colonialism,
while capitalist accumulation in the contemporary
period includes sweat- shops, labour concentration
camps, stigmatised production processes and
criminalisation of the working class.
• Dr. Arjun Sengupta Committee Report, 2006 on
unorganised workers managing their lives with Rs.
20/- per day among whom women constitute 60%
of the total work force.
• Social Security f0r Workers in Unorganised Sector
Act, 2008. 4
5. Stabilization Policies and SAP
As a result of Structural Adjustment
Programme, sacked/ retrenched formal
sector workers and employees are forced to
work in the informal sector for precarious
wages. Victims of Voluntary Retirement
Scheme have downward economic
mobility. Women in their families are
multitasking-paid and unpaid work.
Rationalisation, mechanisation and
automation have had labour reducing
implications. 5
6. Feminisation of work force
• In the poverty groups, women end up doing
the most demanding and lowest status chores.
E.g. Scavenging, solid waste management.
Young men refusing to do menial chores
• New migrants to the urban centres due to
agrarian crisis.
• Galloping inflation & price rise of essential
survival needs
• State withdrawing from health care and
quality education. Commercialisation of
essential services- “user fees”
6
7. Ethnic & Communal Tensions
• Co-existence of high wage islands in the sea of
pauperised working class has enhanced
human misery and social conflict in the
context of massive reduction in the welfare
budgets of the nation states in South Asia and
South East Asia.
• With rising ethnic and communal tension
jeopardising economic activities, visible and
invisible activities of underground extra-legal
economy is displaying a tendency to expand.
7
8. Dual Economy Model
• INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR
LEVELS OF EDUCATION &
SKILLS get differential wages due to
casualisation of the workforce.
Introduction of contract system in
public sector has institutionalised neo-
liberal dual economy model.
• Wage differentials
• Segmented markets 8
9. Job & Wage Discrimination
• Immigrants face job discrimination in
pre-entry phase & wage discrimination
in post entry phase. They remain the first
to be fired and the last to be hired.
• Dualistic Models in the Asian region,
promotes differentiation based on
language, caste, religion, ethnic
background and exclusion from informal
network for upward economic mobility.
• Worst victims-Women headed
households 9
10. External Sector
Majority of the toiling poor rot in the external sector in
which real wages change at disparate rates.
Institutions like extended family, caste and village nexus
play an important role in providing safety nets to
migrant workers.
• GHETTO LABOUR MARKETS
• Burgeoning GHETTO LABOUR MARKETS are perpetuating
the law of jungle in the industrial scenario. As a result a
situation arises where legal apartheid faced by micro-
entrepreneurs at the foot of the economy.
• Workers in casual sector are predominantly young and
single men and women, while workers in regular
sector are older and married.
10
11. Plight of the Poor Women
• Segmentation begins in the rural areas where
the asset-less poor in the margin of economy
migrate to the cities.
• Dual economy thrives on discrimination based on
gender relations, caste, religion, language, parent’s
education, family occupation, migration status and
age.
• 1. Income differs widely between these segments.
2. Mobility between them is limited.
3. Women are at the bottom of pyramid.
11
12. Globalisation has enhanced patriarchal control over women’s
sexuality, fertility and labour by superimposing commercial values
on the conventional values throughout the world.
Feminist economists can play a crucial role in motivating the nation-
states and the global decision-making bodies to be pro-active in
furthering women’s entitlements in the households, economy and
governance.
Women’s groups are making global effort to change macro-policies,
programmes of the nation-state and actions at the local level by the
government and non-government bodies.
Engendering social protection and social security policies-welfare
measures, promotive, income maintenance and protective
dimensions of social security-Right to food, MG NAREGA, Mid Day
Meal, strengthening Public distribution system, implementation of
the social Security Act, 2008. 12
13. Rapid pace of economic globalisation and global economic downturn
2008 onwards has brought massive uncertainties in women’s lives.
Multi-faced tragedies due to
•marketisation of poor economies and commercialisation of human relations,
high male unemployment & entry of women as low wage substitutes
•commoditization of women’s bodies especially in sexual trafficking,
advertisements and beauty-contests promoted by the Trans-national
corporations (TNCs) and Multi-national Corporations (MNCs),
•starvation deaths in the rural areas, farmers’ suicides
•havoc played by onslaught of new reproductive technologies, of
both pro and anti-natalist varieties, racist population control
policies, sex selective abortions of female foetuses, surrogacy
violating dignity and bodily integrity of women
•increasing economic disparity, the feminisation of poverty,
•disasters in the name of mega development projects resulting into massive
displacement of peoples, stressful life leading to increasing violence against
women,
• the pandemic of HIV and AIDS, armed conflicts 13
•persistent racism, casteism, sexism, chauvinism and extremism
14. •Gender sensitive strategic thinking can address practical and
strategic gender needs of women. For example, more women in more
areas of economic activities can be gainfully and justly employed.
Information technology can enable women throughout the globe to
share strategies, successes and stress-free and safe life.
• March 8, International Women’s Day-International Women's Day
(8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the
world. It is a gift from working class women to the women of the
world. It symbolizes struggles, strength, and sisterhood of women for
just, humane and egalitarian social order.
Bread and Roses, 1908
•“As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.”
14
15. Southern Women’s Perspectives
Feminists wedded to safeguard the entitlements of women have been
trying to convince the international financial, economic and
commercial institutions, namely, World Bank, International
Monitory Fund, World Trade Organisation and Organisation of
Economic Cooperation and Development
•to withdraw existing conditionalities and rules of economic
globalisation, and
•to stop covertly and overtly, promoting the interests of patriarchal
class system, all over the globe, defending the interests of TNCs and
MNCs and imposing unrestrained commodification, thereby
resulting into concentration and centralization of economic,
financial and political power in the hands of the few.
15
17. Women and Employment
Some Areas of Concern
• Non enforcement of Laws and Schemes(MBA,
ERA, Crèche, EGS
• Violation of basic Human Rights in Informal
Sector( irregular, no social protection, rag-pickers)
• No skills training
• Abuse in Special Economic Zones (FTZs, EPZs)
• Night work
• Sexual harassment 17
18. Recommendations for Employment
Policy for Women’s Employment
• Proper Implementation of Laws, Schemes
• Law Reform(Maternity Benefit Act, Family Leave,
Sexual Harassment at Workplace)
• Legal Protection for Informal Sector- Umbrella
Legislation-Occupational Health & Safety
• Capacity Building and Training
• Social Audits of laws, rights
18
19. Employment Guarantee Scheme and Maternity Benefits
The Employment Guarantee Scheme needs to be expanded and
improved for urban workers. The focus of such employment
schemes can be on building infrastructure, slum development and
housing.
The National Renewal Fund should be extended to cover the
unorganized sector and a substantial part should go into the
retraining of workers.
Maternity Benefit for ALL working Mothers irrespective of the
number of employees. Crèches should be provided for children of all
workers and not merely women workers irrespective of the number
of employees. There could be a common fund for each industry.
Social Audit of Workers rights
Measures to curb suicides among indebted women of MFIs. 19
20. Recommendations for strengthening the SHGs :
• Groups formed by experienced and trained NGOs
or WDCs should be given bank credit and loans.
• Nurturing grants be released at regular intervals
• Pension-linked insurance scheme
• Curb bullying tactics and defrauding of poor women
by commercial minded MFIs
• state level agency to be appointed to train NGOs
• initiatives and training to bankers for improving
programme delivery mechanism and promoting
gender sensitivity. 20
21. Property and Land Rights
• Need for a global campaign
• gender bias in property laws. Need for gender-just
family laws in matters such as marriage, divorce,
custody and guardianship of child, maintenance,
women’s right to stay in the parental or
matrimonial home
As per the UN
“Women constitute ½ of world’s population,
do 2/3 of world’s work, in return get 1/10 of world’s
income and 1/100 of world’s wealth. 21
22. Social Audit of Budgets
•The Budget is an important tool in the hands of state for
affirmative action for improvement of gender relations through
reduction of gender gap in the development process. It can help
to reduce economic inequalities, between men and women as
well as between the rich and the poor.
•Pro-poor budgeting, bottom-up budgeting, child budgeting
• Green budgeting, local and global implications of pro-poor and
pro-women budgeting
•Alternative macro scenarios emerging out of alternative
budgets and inter-linkages between gender-sensitive budgeting
and women’s empowerment.
•SC & Tribal Component plan must be judiciously executed.
•Women’s Component Plan to assure at least 30% of
funds/benefits from all development sectors flow to women.
•Capacity building workshops for women in governance
22
23. Recommendations
• Testamentary powers that deny the daughters rights
should be restricted
• Allow daughters full right of residence in parental dwelling
houses
• Women must be given ‘the right to residence’
• putting private household property in the joint names of
partners, with precautions against misappropriation by the
male partner
• 10% of all houses in the housing schemes(in both, public &
private sector) must be reserved for Women Headed
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Households.
24. Budgeting, Auditing and Planning
• budgetary policies to consider gender, class, caste
dynamics operating in the economy and civil society.
• need to highlight participatory approaches to pro-poor
budgeting, green budgeting, local and global implications
of pro-poor and pro-women budgeting,
• Women’s Component in all anti poverty schemes and
programmes to assure at least 30% of funds/benefits
from all
• Tax benefits be extended to women who are only
earners in household.
• mandated approach of convergence of services at all
levels of governance, through inter-sect oral committees
of all Ministries/Departments at the Centre ,States with
24
specific responsibility to Councils and Municipalities
25. Affirmative Action
• Every ministry at the Centre and State levels to have a
women’s division
• Women and Child Development Department must be
separated
• Training and capacity building workshops for decision-
makers in the government structures, village councils,
parliamentarians and audio-visual media for planning,
budgeting, implementing and monitoring.
25
26. •Strengthening of Public Distribution System (PDS)- Food
Security
•Visibility of women in statistics and indicators-gender
disaggregated data
•Recognition of women’s work in the Systems of National
Accounts
•Access to critical resources ( fuel, fodder, water, health-
care, nutritious diet)
• Organizing the unorganized women workers 26
27. Important issues for Global and local level
Advocacy to Empower Women:
a.Strengthening of Food Security and Right to Food Top down and
bottom up initiatives to stop malnutrition and starvation deaths
created by stabilisation programmes resulting into withdrawal of
state from food security commitments.
b. Public Health issues must be highlighted thro’ a national network,
People’s Health Assembly. The Nation States should follow the UN
mandate of 5 % of the GDP for budgetary allocation on the public
health.
c. No to dumping of unsafe contraceptives for coloured and poor
women.
d. Ban sex-selective abortions of female foetuses in South Asia and
China. 27
28. f. State Support for Women’s Education not only at the primary
school level but also at the secondary and high school level. Forum
for Child Care has demanded that one room of the school should be
converted into crèche so that girls who have to look after their
younger siblings can also join the schools. More budgetary allocation
and actual funding for girls’ education.
g. Free Legal Aid and People’s Court: Justice and Peace
Commission, a network of community organisations working in
Mumbai provides free legal aid to poor women to deal with marital
disputes, divorce, maintenance, custody of children, alimony,
property, right to stay in the parental or matrimonial homes. This
model must be replicated everywhere.
h. Housing Rights are the most important. NCHR
demanded that in al1 housing societies and state
supported housing schemes, 10 % houses should be
reserved for female-headed households. 28
29. i. Sanitation, Public toilets: There is an urgent need to take up the
issues of urban sanitation in terms of higher budgetary provision
from the state and municipal funding.
j. Safety nets for women in the subsistence sector of the economy in
terms of loans, infrastructure, storage and transport and state
subsidy and support price for agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy
development, horticulture and floriculture.
k. Environmental Issues: Natural resources, being humankind’s
common heritage, must be preserved for the use of actual and future
generation with the perspective that each human being has an access
to water, air, energy, etc. according to her or his needs.
l. Commercialisation and privatisation of these resources must be
stopped. Biological diversity (flora, fauna, forests, ecosystems) must
be preserved and indigenous women’s collective wisdom must be
recognised, respected and valued. 29