Explain What Is Meant By Feminisation Of Poverty

Explain what is meant by the term ‘Feminisation of Poverty thesis’!

Illustrate this by including examples of social policy which have a negative impact on women.

DRAFT ONE

This essay will attempt to establish if politics introduced over the past decade have managed to eradicate the inequalities that women are faced with in a modern society. Due to the word limit of this essay it will only give firstly a brief explanation of the meaning of the term feminine- proceeding to poverty before moving on to vows on primary evidence and the implications it has had on women’s choices when bringing up a family and entering the labour market and the significant impacts it has on their choices. It will then finish with concluding weather or not
Feminists have a long tradition for arguing for policy changes to make life better for women. Since the first international women’s day in March 1911 the face of poverty remains distinctly female. (Taylor- New statesman pg 10) Early socialist feminists were concerned with what governments of the day takes in areas of social security taxation, health, education, housing, employment or anything that directly impacts on families and family life. ( Student’s Companion p166) All these areas are very important due to the impact it can have on the quality of life for the children which is therefore why social feminists continue to campaign to enhance the poverty gap felt by women, thus closing the social divisions of welfare distribution. Marxist feminists see women’s roles from a capitalist economic system and that women should change to meet the demands of the economy which in turn saw the state as consolidating unequal relations of power. This is evident as the west state has not equalised opportunities it has instead served to each women into domestic housewife and carer roles and as the socialist feminists argue limits education and career horizons by keeping them out of the labour market. (Ordering Lives p131) Finally looking at the radical feminists who would
(Ordering Lives p65) Nevertheless although their campaigning over the years has not eradication the divide between politics introduced for women by men The Feminisation of poverty thesis is the term used to describe how politics that have had and as will be discussed continue to have a negative impact on women in terms of the west state and labour market politics, which increase the risk of poverty faced by women. (Lister 2004 p141) So how can women win equality when social, cultural and environmental influences hinder their prospects and lift them out of poverty? Equal opportunities can only be delivered though a combination of legislation and cultural change. Women face numerous elements of venerable groups as they are margaliszed by the fact first and foremost they are women, who may also be single, may be a teenage mother, have a disability or a child who is disabled therefore they take on the caring role or may be elderly all these factors in poverty giving greater risks, worse life chances and less choice. Maclunhosh and Mooney 2002 show that income is still very unevenly distributed and inequality faced by women are increasing. (Ordering Lives