Gender Inequality In The Global South

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The narrow definition of poverty is having an income that is less than what is socially acceptable to maintain an expected standard of living. This definition fails to include aspects other than monetary poverty. Qualities such as "experiences of social exclusion and vulnerability, the denial of human rights, right to health care, lack of empowerment, opportunity, capacity and security" (Sicchia, 2006) define a much more broader term that set poverty as a lifestyle with minimal escape. This expanded definition of poverty is commonly found in the global south. Those that are most vulnerable to poverty are the women and children of Africa. By examining poverty from the perspective of African women and Nigerian youth, the conclusion that those …show more content…
It is found across the globe with mass poverty found primarily in Central and South America, Africa and parts of Asia (Petras, 2005). This disgusting statistic is made even more repulsive by the feminization of poverty. It is estimated that 70% of the world 's poor are female (Sicchia, 2006). This alarming statistic is due to the many layers of gender discrimination and inequality that exists globally. Inequality places women in significantly more vulnerable positions to poverty than men, especially in the global south. Gender equality in the global south is still lacking with social inequalities preventing women from acquiring productive resources such as "land ownership, credit, education, employment in the formal sector, legal protections, health and social services" (Sicchia, 2006). Many women in poverty resort to self-employment, part-time/ seasonal jobs and transactional sex work as methods of income (Sicchia, 2006). The instability of jobs, in addition to gender inequality, lead to a cycle that often cannot be broken. Transactional sex work is also extremely dangerous in the global south. In addition to common hazards with the trade, poor health care and the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa make the job a deadly gamble (Sicchia, 2006). The options for women in poverty are next to none and all potential options carry …show more content…
MDG 's primary goal was to achieve 8 tasks that fulfilled basic human rights (Chinedu, 2013). "The goals chosen were intended to increase an individual 's human capabilities and advance the means to a productive life" (Chinedu, 2013). Countries who did sign on, such as Nigeria, were symbolic in nature with no real effort promised. The complex nature of poverty combines many different issues that cannot be pinpointed to one location. Gender inequalities, lack of education, corruption and lack of political framework all play important roles in maintaining the conditions that breed poverty. External forces such as the Millennium Development Goals will fail unless they attempt to combat all the problems at the same time rather than one after another. Poverty is a complex problem and will probably be solved not by globalization but an even more complex

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