Blog Post: The Feminization of Poverty

As high poverty rates affect countries and people world-wide it's imperative that one looks at the unique experience and effects poverty has on women. According to the United Nations, worldwide, women earn only slightly more than 50 percent of what men earn. This lack of equal income leaves women disproportionately affected by poverty creating the phenomenon known as the Feminization of Poverty.

Women that live in poverty are also denied equal rights as men regarding education, land ownership, inheritance and healthcare. These factors not only affect the women directly, but also their families, communities, and the country's economy and growth as a whole.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women have highlighted the Feminization of Poverty as a major source of concern for countries world-wide. Countries such as Uganda, Cameroon, Madagascar, Niger, Denmark, and Singapore have already taken steps to combat this crisis and narrow the disproportionate financial gap between men and women in their respective nations.

As you prepare to participate in the 2023 HNMUN conference, it’s important to consider all of the various effects of the Feminization of Poverty on your respective countries. Billions of people, not just women, are affected by this inequality. As nations grow and work to build up their economy, they must also look at how their systems are affecting women. In order to do this, you must consider a few overarching questions? How can a nation grow and support all of their citizens? Are there old systems of oppressions that need to be changed or destroyed in order to bridge the gap between men and women? How is the Feminization of Poverty specifically impacting your nation and how can you combat the negative effects it causes?