Women's Changing Social Roles & Economic Development

Impact of Economic Development on Women's Roles

• Economic development profoundly alters women's roles, influencing marriage choices, freedom of movement, and educational opportunities, leading to greater gender equality.

Shifting Gender Preferences

• Historically, many cultures favored sons. This preference tends to decrease with economic growth, as education becomes more accessible for females.
• Parents often favored sons due to the perception that they would earn more and provide financial support to the family.

Education and Economic Growth

• Economic growth increases job opportunities for all genders, changing family investment calculations regarding education.
• A strong correlation exists between economic growth and girls' education rates.
• As economies grow, girls stay in school longer, and college attendance increases.
• Globally, secondary education rates for girls have been rising in the 21st century, with some regions potentially exceeding boys' education rates.
• In developed economies like the US, women's college enrollment rates are higher than men's.

Delayed Marriage and Declining Fertility

• Higher education for girls leads to delayed marriage and lower adolescent childbearing rates.
• Delayed marriage results in women having fewer children during their lifetime.
• Economic growth is linked to declining fertility rates.
• As education and formal sector employment become common for both genders, women's traditional roles as wives and mothers diminish.
• Reduced family obligations create opportunities for women to work in the formal sector and participate in public life.

Spatial Gender Roles

• Traditionally, women were assigned to private spaces (domestic, household), while men were assigned to public spaces (local, regional, global).
• Economic development blurs these divisions, expanding women's roles to include all aspects of public life.

Geographic Mobility

• Geographic mobility, the ability to move through space, is a measure of individual liberty.
• Economic development increases women's freedom of movement due to their participation in school, employment, and public life.
• Increased education and workforce participation enhance women's geographic mobility.
• Mid-20th century US economic growth expanded the service sector, creating job opportunities for educated women.
• In countries like China and Mexico, manufacturing growth provided jobs for young women, for example, in consumer electronics.
• These changes made it more socially acceptable for women to move independently.
• The introduction of household appliances and electricity reduces women's domestic labor, allowing them to participate in paid jobs.

Empowerment and Political Participation

• Higher education rates for women correlate with increased participation in civic life and political institutions.

• Women's presence in public spaces enhances their ability to make choices and participate in social decision-making.

• Measuring women's representation in national parliaments is a simple way to assess their civic participation.

• The United Nations Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) offers a broader assessment of empowerment.

• GEM includes:

  • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments
  • Percentage of women in economic decision-making positions
  • Women's versus men's share of earned income

• The relationship between economic development and women's political participation is complex.

• Some developed countries still exhibit cultural biases against women's political participation.

• In the United States, women are underrepresented in elected offices.

• Some developing countries have laws promoting equitable representation of women in elected offices.

• Economic development, higher education rates for girls, and delayed marriage open more opportunities for women's political participation.

• Increased participation in political life gives women a greater say in public policy matters, such as health and education.

• This can lead to increased future opportunities for girls and women.