Gender and Incomes

Gender and Incomes

1. Income Generating Projects for Women

   • important for WID
     • also common in GAD
   • women subordinated = stuck in private sphere
     • help get into workplace
   • Radical Feminism
     • doesn't subscribe to this view
       • more concerned with bodies
       • idealise subsistence
   • early programmes criticised
     • poor planning
     • not marketed properly
       • e.g. COHAD
     • still have value
       • women enjoy meeting with other women
       • learn new skills etc

2. How do men and women relate to incomes differently in households?

   • access to cash
     • women < men
   • level of debt
     • women < men
     • better money managers
     • less money but also less debt
       • less economic responsibility
   • pooled/separate income
     • cash transfers between spouses
       • men surprisingly generous
         • providers
         • marriage costly for men
       • married women = higher incomes; less control than non-married
     • interesting how couples divide money
   • different uses of money
     • women spend most of their income on needs of family
       • 2/3 = altruistic
     • smaller incomes so less in absolute terms
   • Saving
     • women > men
     • innovative saving schemes e.g. rostas
   • Problems with targeting
     • households can easily reallocate resources to neutralise attempts to help disadvantaged member
       • e.g. school meals; minimum wage
     • uncertainty about how much men earn

3. How does changing women's income change gender relations?

   • loans to women can lead to conflict within household
   • Opportunidades Mexico
     • money to women for getting health checks; sending kids to school; keeping family healthy
     • can be seen as reinforcing gender stereotypes but otherwise positive