By Mariama Bah
The economic impact of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a significant drag on global economies, creating and reinforcing a cycle known as the feminization of poverty. Reports by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) show that violence against women and girls is associated with lower economic activity and development, primarily by causing a significant drop in women’s employment (IMF ). The physical, psychological, and emotional violence makes it difficult for women to achieve or maintain a job. Quantifying this immense toll, World Bank reports suggest that in some countries, intimate partner violence alone can cost up to 3.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a cost greater than what many countries spend on education. Furthermore, high rates of domestic and sexual violence have been shown to reduce workplace productivity and result in lost staff time and workdays.
The feminization of poverty encapsulates this complex effect, how women are disproportionately disadvantaged by this cycle of violence and economic instability. While GBV negatively impacts all of society through reduced workforce size and decreased overall economic activity in the short and long term, the burden falls heaviest on women. As sociologist Sylvia Chant notes, it is “vital to start cultivating a broader and more inclusive base for longitudinal comparisons of gendered privation”, a process that requires integrating quantitative data with qualitative gender analysis to fully understand the evolving nature of poverty and its gendered dimensions. Addressing this requires adopting an intersectional approach that accounts for factors like age, citizenship, and ethnicity to ensure support is tailored to women in all their diversity. Taking action involves spreading awareness, promoting solutions that combine accurate data with intersectional perspectives, and supporting local projects that empower women and girls.
Sources:
Re-thinking the “Feminization of Poverty” in Relation to Aggregate Gender Indices
The Economic Cost of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the Feminization of Poverty
