Gender, equality, poverty and economic growth

Gender equality in third world countries still remains poor in comparison to other well-developed countries. Third World Countries with religious subjectivity, rural factors and civic liberties are contributing to a gender gap in education and income possibilities of women in these countries (Sen, 2009). What these countries must realize is that women are the key to the global economic recovery of their countries.

Unlocking the potential of women by narrowing the gender gap is the key to developing a Third World Countries economic efficiency. More and more women in third world countries are realizing that education is a key development in their lives, households and economies. Many of the women feel that gender equality when it comes to education is important in its own right (Sen, 2009). One of those women who advocate this education equality principle is Nobel Peace Prize winner and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sir Leaf who strongly believes that education should be a right for both men and women. When asked about public resources in Liberia she went onto explain that her country is learning that changes in educational policies must occur in order to facilitate economic growth in their country. She stated that, “policies reflect equal opportunity, equity and allocation of public resources is not directed toward an elitist group and favorite few.” She claims that education should be a right of passage for everyone in that society.

Tawakkel Karman, a Yemeni journalist and Leymah Gbowee, also received the Nobel Peace Prize in the year 2011. These two women from third world countries also believe that education of girls and women in their countries would be an investment in that countries economic growth. These Nobel Peace Prize winners firmly believe that empowering women can transform businesses, economies and societies. Conversely, by failing to advance women we are not only failing them and their families – we are actively undermining economic growth.

Gender gaps in education impede the investment in girls and women that live in third world countries, and these impediments can be naturally overcome by eliminating remaining gender disadvantages in education. One idea to bridge the educational gap between boys and girls in remote third world countries with very limited access to roads leading to schools is for families to establish a smaller school in their village (Sharma, 2011). In turn, the government could offer families’ a cash transfer conditioned on school attendance for their daughters. The Government of Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Scheme is an unconditional cash transfer program targeted to ultra-poor households with high dependency ratio. This incentive would allow their daughter’s to be educated while providing financial assistance to that family (Revenga, 2012). In Sub-Saharn Africa between 1960 and 1992 it was estimated that gender inequality between the sexes in educations and employment suppressed annual per capita growth by 0.8% points per year (Sharma, 2011). Gender equality would have double economic growth that percentage. In Asia and the Pacific region their economies are seeing a lose of $42- $47 billion yearly due to women’s limited access to employment opportunities and an additional $16- $30 billion due to gender gaps in education (Sharma, 2011).

Another key to developing the economy of a third world country is to create an equal employment opportunity workforce for that country. If all the women from these third world countries had the same employment opportunities as men, it would lead to a more productive citizenry. Without gender equality in a third world country, sustainable economic development is unachievable (Sharma, 2011). The growing inclusion of women in the work force in these underserved communities would also help shift value perceptions of girls and increase investments in their economy. Many third world country leaders are taking notice of their staggering economic numbers in comparison to other countries.
At the 2011, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation High-Level Dialogue, which centered on women’s participation in the economy, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized the impact of women’s participation in the economy. Mrs. Clinton quoted from an article in The Economist that clearly stated the evidence off an increase in employment of women in developed economies during the past decade, contributed more to global growth than did the 1,346 million citizens of China in 2011 (PRB Data Sheet, 2011).

Continued gender inequality in third world countries is preventing these countries from reaching their fullest financial economic potential. Equal opportunities in education and employment are vital developments that must occur in order to improve these third world countries economies. Domestic policy action is crucial. The international community should complement efforts in the education and employment developments of these countries so everyone gains the benefits. To ensure that inequality discontinues in these third world countries policies must be established to emphasize building human and social capital like the Government of Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Schem (Sharma, 2011). These kinds of policies would encourage gender equality and economic efficiency in third world countries