Devaluing Women's Labor and Microloans

Flashcards exploring devaluing women's labor, gender parity, and the impact of microloans on women's economic development.

Gender inequalities in the workplace

The arbitrary definition of jobs and careers as either men's work or women's work, often resulting in lower pay for jobs labeled as women's work.

Gender parity

A way of documenting progress towards gender equality using measures such as relative access to education, average incomes, and workforce participation.

Women's work

Unpaid labor at home, which restricts women's full participation in the formal workforce and often pushes them towards unemployment in the informal sector.

Informal sector employment

Employment that is more flexible, but with worse labor conditions and lower wages than in the formal sector; it is often pursued by women due to domestic obligations.

Clerical work

In the 19th century it was considered men's work in the US but now it is considered women's work.

Number of countries with laws that code jobs by gender

104 out of 189

Microcredit

A system of giving very small loans to people with little income or collateral to help them establish or expand a small business.

Garmin Village Bank

In 1983 economist Mohammed Yunus founded this lending institution focusing on individuals without assets or credit.

Why microloan efforts target women

Prioritize family well-being, health care, nutrition, and education and are more likely to repay loans on time.

Summary of microloans

Microloans have improved some women's lives, raised their standards of living, and even helped some to start successful businesses. They have not, however, proved to be a cure for widespread poverty among women in the developing world.