Understanding gender inequalities in poverty

One key concept is the 'feminisation of poverty', which describes the increasing proportion of poor people who are women. This occurs because women frequently face vertical segregation in the workplace – a situation where they are concentrated in lower-level positions with limited opportunities for promotion.

Causes of gender inequalities in poverty

Several interconnected factors contribute to why women are more likely to experience poverty than men. These often relate to the unequal distribution of paid and unpaid work in society.

Time poverty and career interruptions

Women often experience 'time poverty', a term used by sociologist Sylvia Chant to describe the lack of time available for paid work due to domestic responsibilities. While men can focus on building careers and advancing up the pay scale during their younger years, women frequently interrupt their working lives to have and raise children.

When women return to the workforce, they typically start again at entry-level positions with lower pay. This restarts their career progression from the bottom, reducing their overall earnings and increasing their risk of poverty.

Caring responsibilities

Many women are unable to participate fully in paid employment because they act as full-time carers. This includes looking after children, or providing support for sick, disabled, or older family members.

Lack of occupational pensions

Older women are particularly vulnerable to poverty because they may have spent significant periods out of paid work as mothers or housewives. This reduces their eligibility for occupational pensions – retirement funds built up through employer contributions during employment.

Global and retirement patterns in gender poverty

Gender inequalities in poverty extend beyond individual countries and affect women at different life stages, highlighting systemic issues worldwide.

Global statistics

In 2014, women made up approximately 49.6 per cent of the world's population but accounted for around 70 per cent of those living in poverty.

Retirement disparities

In retirement, approximately a quarter of women live in poverty after retiring, compared to about one in ten men.

Impacts of poverty on women's lives

Poverty creates a range of challenges that affect women's daily experiences, health, and family roles. These effects are often more pronounced for women due to their positions as primary caregivers.

Everyday consequences

Poverty can lead to inadequate diets, substandard housing, mounting debt, and high levels of stress. For instance, the Trussell Trust, a charity running foodbanks across the UK, reported in 2014 that food poverty impacts men and women differently. Women are more likely to skip meals or go hungry to ensure their families are fed.

Research on women's experiences of poverty

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) conducted research exploring how poverty affects women, particularly in their roles as mothers. This study used interviews to gather qualitative data on women's daily lives.

Key findings from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation research

• Women reported that poverty hindered their supportive parenting, such as concerns over inadequate or unhealthy meals for children.
• They expressed unhappiness about being unable to provide treats, gifts, or family holidays.
• Feelings of shame were common, linked to children wearing second-hand clothes.
• Poor mental and physical health was widespread, with stress, depression, exhaustion, low self-esteem, and shame described as everyday realities.