Missing Dimensions, Hidden Poverty Women and Empowerment

1. Missing Dimensions, Hidden Poverty Women and Empowerment Jeni Klugman Symposium on Ultra-Poverty George Washington University March 23, 2012

2. Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Multidimensional poverty encompasses several important dimensions of interest that can be especially important for women and girls • Indicators with observed gender differences • Years of schooling • Child school attendance • Child mortality • Child nutrition • Asset ownership • Indicators with different impacts by gender but measured at the household level • Electricity • Improved sanitation • Safe drinking water • Flooring • Cooking fuel

3. Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty But multidimensional poverty still misses major dimensions, including those which are • not observed and not measured • observed but not measured • not captured the attention, yet, of policy makers and researchers • Overlapping disparities aggravate this neglect – especially for the ultra poor

4. Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions • Missing women • Almost 4 million missing women each year

5. Missing women Source: WDR, 2012

6. Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions • Missing women • Almost 4 million missing women each year • Missing time • Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing

7. Missing time Source: WDR, 2012

8. Missing Gender Dimensions of Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions • Missing women • Almost 4 million missing women each year • Missing time • Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing • Missing rights • In 48 countries women have restrictions on their autonomy

9. Missing rights Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012

10. Missing rights Women need permission from their husbands to: Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012

11. Missing rights Women need permission from their husbands to: Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012

12. Missing Gender Dimensions for Poverty Missing in poverty – observed and measured dimensions • Missing women • Almost 4 million missing women each year • Missing time • Women work more hours than men  less leisure and wellbeing • Missing rights • In 48 countries women have some restrictions on their autonomy • Missing awareness about domestic violence • In countries like Ethiopia, half of women report being abused

13. Domestic violence: Percentage women abused 49% Ethiopia (Butajira) 42% Bangladesh (Matlab) 27% Brazil (Sao Paulo) 13% Japan (Yokohama) 246,000 women Source: Women, Business and the Law, 2012

14. New findings on the realities of empowerment and disempowerment • Women are participating more than ever in the economic, political, and civic life of their communities: • In 28 of the 97 communities, women were standing as their elected leaders. • Faster institutional change and relaxation of gender norms in urban contexts and where better access to markets—associated with urban women's initiatives, both individual and collective • “Everybody uses cell phones, even market women and all. • For example, when their goods come, the person will just call them.” • --Young woman, Liberia” • Yet pace of change uneven, and persistent gaps • "This word [freedom] is not used for women. I may have freedom as a woman but if I want to go out and dance, my husband will give me a black eye. Freedom is when there is no restriction."--A village woman, Mongar, Bhutan • "If you have little power, rich people exploit you and there is nothing you can do. You just have to accept whatever they give you for the sake of your children."--A village woman, Vumengazi, South Africa Source: Muñoz, Petesch, and Turk, World Bank forthcoming 2012

15. Key interdependencies • Sometimes there are positive synergies, but in many communities, men felt uncertain about their roles in society • "I had worked in Zastava [a factory] for 24 years. Then I was fired. I automatically lost everything. I lost any freedom and power I had. Everything was lost." Urban man, Licika, Serbia • “[In response to job loss], men would get very frustrated, get very upset, get drunk, • beat the wife.” • Adult man, Papua New Guinea • Difficult situations seem to create opportunities for women to assume new roles, while men really struggle to carry out their gender-ascribed roles • However, also creates stress and sexist behavior, and competition for roles and resources • Complexity about missing dimensions, especially in contexts of change. Source: Muñoz, Petesch, and Turk, World Bank forthcoming 2012

16. Ways Ahead - Data • Challenges: • Limited domains: Dearth of data – particularly for economic opportunity and empowerment. • Of 65 countries reviewed, only 8 had information on land ownership. Evidence on consumer and productive durables, livestock, assets, is even more limited. • Building capacity of national statistical agencies: Of the 71 low income countries with national statistical development strategies, few explicitly focus on gender mainstreaming. • Funding: Funding is needed to enable national statistical agencies collect, process, and disseminate gender-relevant data. • Areas where the World Bank is working include: • World Bank’s Open Data Initiative - E-Atlas for Gender and 2011 Little Data Book on Gender • Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey on Agriculture– supporting governments in 6 sub-Saharan African countries • Interagency and Expert Group on Gender Statistics – building statistical capacity in countries

17. Ways ahead - Work on agency • Priority areas • Enhancing women’s voice in fertility decisions – improving access and quality of services, as well as bargaining power in household • Reproductive Health Action Plan: • Reducing domestic violence - expanding support services for victims and strengthening legislation, enforcement and access to justice • Learning on Gender and Conflict in Africa (LOGiCA) • The Hive: A Knowledge Platform on Fragility, Conflict and Violence • Increasing social and political participation – education, changing beliefs about women’s leadership and enabling social movements • DRC, supporting the economic empowerment of women through involvement in Village Savings and Loan Associations