Gender inequality

A girl born today in a poor community becomes part of the largest group of people to be denied basic needs and human rights—women. In many cultures, a girl is devalued from birth. She may be given less food, denied urgent medical care and assigned exhausting chores.

As a pre-teen or young teen, she may be forced to end her education in order to marry, or even be sold into prostitution to feed her family.

As an adult, poverty makes her more vulnerable to threats like domestic violence, childbirth complications and HIV infection —and often prevents her from breaking the cycle of exploitation for her daughters.
 

Key facts about women

• Studies show that women work two thirds of the world’s working hours but earn just 10 percent of the world’s income.
• Worldwide women own less than two percent of all property and in many countries, less than 10 percent of women hold title to their land
• Women produce 60-80 percent of food crops in the world and are mostly unpaid for this labour.
• Each year two million girls between the ages of 5 and 15 are trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade.
• Currently, around 40 women die every hour during pregnancy and childbirth. In Africa, one out of five African women will lose a baby during her lifetime (compared to one in 125 in developed countries).
• It has been shown that women and girls will reinvest 90 percent of their income into their families and communities, which is compared to only 30-40 percent for a man.
   

Investing in women and girls

During this centenary of International Women’s Day, let’s change how we approach, respond to and even think about these facts.

For some compelling reasons as to why investing in women and girls can result in better development outcomes click here.

What is World Vision doing about gender inequality?

Protection

Health care: Along with basic health care, World Vision offers prenatal, nutrition and hygiene classes for women.

Recovery from exploitation : World Vision operates facilities that help provide recovery for girls abused in the sex trade—or used as sex slaves during armed conflict—through assistance like counselling, health care, education and job training and placement.

Opportunities

Education: World Vision programs in nearly 100 countries help provide access to education for girls and literacy training for women—cornerstones of women's development.

Advocacy

Community education: Our culturally sensitive staff promote recognition of the inherent value of girls and trains women to advocate for their rights and become leaders in their communities.