Children of Incarcerated Parents

III. The Feminization of Poverty
Feminization of Poverty is the phenomenon that women represent disproportionate
percentages of the world's poor. UNIFEM describes it as "the burden of poverty borne
by women, especially in developing countries". This phenomenon is not only a
consequence of lack of income, but is also the result of the deprivation of capabilities
and gender biases present in both societies and governments. This includes the poverty
of choices and opportunities, such as the ability to lead a long, healthy, and creative life,
and enjoy basic rights like freedom, respect, and dignity. Women's increasing share of
poverty is related to the rising incidence of lone mother households. The term
feminization of poverty itself is controversial and has been defined in many different
ways. In 1978, Diana Pearce coined the term, "the feminization of poverty" after
conducting research and noticing that a disproportionate number of women struggled
with poverty within the United States, as well as globally. At the time of Pearce's
research, two-thirds of the poor who were over age 16 were women.
Causes
There are several factors that place women at high risk of poverty. These include the
gender wage gaps, women’s prevalence in low-paid occupations, a lack of work-family
supports, and the challenges involved in accessing public benefits. Feminisation of
poverty is a problem which may be most severe in parts of South Asia, and may also
differ by social class. Although low income is the major cause, there are many
interrelated facets of this problem. Lone mothers are usually at the highest risk for
extreme poverty because their income is insufficient to rear children. In addition, it
lowers their children's possibilities for good education and nourishment. Low income is a
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