Alex Valentine
Mrs. Whetstone
AP Lang 4
11 March 2013
Women’s Progress Hindered by Poverty
A country is formed when a group of people share an environment, a belief system, an
economy, and a governing system. This group comes together with similar thoughts on how
people’s lives should be run, how people should be treated, and how people should behave. In
these societies, different types of people have different types of roles. For example, men and
women are placed on different levels. Men have certain roles they play in the group and women
have certain roles that they play in the group. Countries differ on what specific “jobs” men and
women have but there is a common trend. Society tends to put men in more dominant roles
while women are given smaller roles. In some countries, there isn’t a wide gap between men and
women because women are given rights, but in other countries the gap is severe. Often
underdeveloped countries do not have sufficient rights for women because of the way poverty
influences behaviors and hinders social progress.
Since the beginning of human civilization, the general attitude that most societies had
was that women were inferior to men. Society saw men as more intelligent, emotionally stable,
and physically stronger than women. Women were thought of as weak and incompetent; they
couldn’t handle any more responsibility than they already had. Their job was to only bare
children, take care of the household, and listen to the male as head of the home. Men were the
rulers and the decision makers and women’s rights were rarely part of any ruling or decision.
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In the past, scientists have even come up with highly regarded reasons of why women
are biologically inferior to men. They came up with extensive data, trying to logically prove this
point. Charles Darwin was one of the main, respected scientists to theorize their inferiority. He
believed it was all biological and that sexual selection was the cause: “Sexual selection was at
the core of evolution, and female inferiority was its major proof and its chief witness. Darwin
concluded that males were like animal breeders, shaping women to their liking by sexual
selection” (Bergman). Sexual selection is a biological term referring to the conquering of a
species for mating purposes. Darwin believed that sexual selection occurred because men could
control women. Men were dominant, so they had the power to choose a partner that would best
fit their liking. Darwin is implying that men were the rulers of society and women were the
servants who had to listen and obey.
Darwin wasn’t the only one to try and gather evidence of women’s inferiority. One
scientist theorized that women were inferior because of their brain size. Brain size was directly
related to the amount of intelligence a person possessed, and since women had significantly less
brain matter than men, women were less intelligent. This conclusion was created by the
respected scientist Paul Broca. Broca’s companion, Topinad, wrote in response to Broca’s
research stating:
The man who fights for two or more in the struggle for existence, who has all the
responsibility and the cares of tomorrow, who is constantly active in combating the
environment and human rivals, needs more brain than the women whom he must protect
and nourish, the sedentary women, lacking any interior occupations, whose role is to raise
children, love, and be passive. (Gould)
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This statement was widely accepted as fact by many people because even the utmost respected
scientists of the 1800’s believed that women did not deserve to be treated equally and science is
hard to refute (Gould). But roughly since the 1900’s societies around the world began to
progress socially. This notion of women’s inferiority started to falter for many countries and
opportunities that were given only to men started to become available for women. So what is the
excuse that in some countries, women have new found rights while others do not? The answer
lies in the amount of wealth a nation has.
The amount of wealth a nation has as a whole directly impacts the quality of women’s
rights. When a country has wealth, there is room for social progress. Wealth creates a sense of
security because there isn’t a threat of not surviving. In a country where people are not generally
worried about not receiving the necessities for life, other issues, like women’s rights, can be
looked at and there is more urgency to solve these other problems. Because women’s rights are
now at the top of a country’s priorities, there are actual results of improvement and social
evolution.
Poverty on the other hand will hinder social progress because of the drastic effects
poverty has on the mind and behavior of people. When a person is in poverty, they don’t have
enough opportunities or money to fulfill their basic needs for life: shelter, food, and health care.
In an article called “Poverty, Social Inequality and Mental Health”, authors Murali and Femi
wrote, “It is the poor who are exposed to dangerous environments… often have stressful
unrewarding and depersonalizing work, who lack the necessities and amenities of life and who,
because they are not part of the mainstream of society are isolated from information and support”
(Murali). This causes a lot of problems including anger, depression, anxiety, irrational behavior,
and in extreme cases violence. This effect that poverty has on the mood only increases the
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hardships that poverty creates, because poverty is like a repeating cycle that cannot be broken.
People in poverty cannot afford resources to live, which in turn limits opportunity for progress,
which creates public unrest and violence, and then the cycle keeps repeating.
For women in underdeveloped countries, the effects of poverty are even more severe.
Women are already given less opportunities because of their gender, but poverty creates even
less opportunities, and women suffer greatly. A woman in poverty writes for an article by action
aid, “Poverty is about more than having a low income. It is about lack of choice and a lack of
power…all over the world women are likely to be poorer, more vulnerable, and more excluded
than men, a situation excused by an artificially created difference in ‘gender roles’ ” (“Empower
Women” ). Women’s rights in many countries are being held back because it was already
predetermined that women were inferior, and because of poverty this thought cannot evolve.
In the world, there are countries that range in development and wealth. The developed
nations have higher living standards and strongly enforced rights for women. Underdeveloped
countries are just the opposite; they have poor living conditions and insufficient women’s rights.
Two examples of wealthy countries are Luxembourg and Qatar and two examples of
underdeveloped countries are Liberia and Mali.
Luxembourg is located just north of France and west of Germany. It is one of the
wealthiest nations in the world and according to the Heritage Foundation, “Luxembourg
continues to be the economically resilient with well-functioning institutions. The quality of the
legal framework remains among the world’s highest…the rule of the law is well maintained, and
a strong tradition of minimum tolerance for corruption is firmly in place” (“Luxembourg.”
Economy). The people of Luxembourg all can read and write by the age of fifteen, and there is
100% access to sanitation facilities. The unemployment rate is low, only reaching 4.8% and
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there are not a percentage of people that are below the poverty line. Life expectancy is also
seventy-nine years of age (“Central Intelligence Agency”). According to the Woldmark
Encyclopedia of Nations, the country takes care of its people; “an extensive system of social
insurance covers virtually all employees and their families. Sickness, maternity, old age,
disability, and survivors’ benefits are paid” (”Luxembourg” Worldmark). This country is one of
the most successful in the world and they also have a significant amount of rights granted to
women.
Women’s rights in Luxembourg are more prevalent than in other countries. Men and
women are equal under the law. There is far less discrimination towards women and a great deal
of opportunities. Many women that have lived there have even succeeded in winning respectable
awards because they had the more freedom to take chances. By 1911 women had the right to go
to school and by 1968 schools turned to coed. They were gaining great access to the work place,
becoming professionals in areas of study like dentistry and law. In 1919 women were being
voted into office. Later in 1967, by law, men and women were given equal pay, and just a few
years after that, new laws passed enforcing equality (“A Short History”). In Luxembourg
women were going places and establishing themselves because of equality. They finally took
out that stereotype and succeeded.
Liberia is a country that is on the opposite end of Luxembourg. It is filled with extreme
poverty and hardship. Roughly 80% of the population is below the poverty line and 85% are
unemployed (“Central Intelligence Agency”). The CIA World Factbook gives a brief overview
of the country saying, “Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign assistance for
revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia’s economy,
especially the infrastructure in and around the capital” (“Central Intelligence Agency”). Money
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and resources are so low that malnutrition and starvation are common. There is a high risk of
disease because of the pathogens and bacteria in the food and water, and life expectancy is only
around forty-five years of age. The environment is in shambles and conditions are bad due to
periods of war (“Central Intelligence Agency”).
The lack of proper living arrangements has caused problems with the treatment of
citizens, especially women. Women are faced with unfair treatment and extreme sexual
violence. Rape is common and the government is not strictly enforcing laws against it. In the
article “Liberia: Justice in Their Own Hands”, by Rachel Vincent, she writes, “Families with
limited resources will often prioritize educating boys over girls. Girls who do make it to high
school often rely on ‘sugar daddies’ – older men, including teachers, who will pay their fees or
give good grades in exchange for sexual favors” (Vincent). Also, Liberia has civil and
customary laws, and they often contradict each other. Civil laws will give women rights but
customary laws counteract those rights making it legal for men to take those rights away. More
often the customary laws are practiced (“Liberia”).
In some countries like Qatar and Mali, wealth and poverty aren’t the only factors in
determining the progress of women’s rights. In Qatar, culture holds back women’s rights, while
in Mali, women’s activist groups push for reform.
Qatar, predominantly made up of the Islamic faith, is ranked in the top wealthiest
countries in the world. The CIA World Factbook says that, “Oil and gas have made Qatar the
world’s highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment”,
(“Central Intelligence Agency”). Their GDP – per capita is $102,800 as of 2012 and this is
ranked number one in the world. Their unemployment rate is ranked number two at only 0.5%
and there isn’t a significant percentage of people below the poverty line (“Central Intelligence
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Agency”). In the article, Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa 2009 – Qatar, it
says, “demonstrate a strong political stability coupled with economic growth. This has enhanced
the country’s image even more, making it a key investment destination and a growing tourism
destination” (Freedom House).
Socially, Qatar is fairly developed, but family traditions make it hard for women to be
seen as equals. In public setting men and women are separated, and there are separate areas in
public domains for women and men. Women also are not generally in the work force and if they
are it is in the fields of education and health care because this is the socially accepted path
(Freedom House). However, women are seen to be pushing the boundaries. Because there are
not any other barriers besides the assigned “gender roles”, women have more freedom to branch
out. According to the article Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa 2009 – Qatar,
“Diversity of career opportunities is expanding nonetheless. In 2003, Qatar graduated some 100
female police cadets” (Freedom House). Women are breaking away from cultural norms so that
equality and opportunity can be reached.
Mali is another country located in Africa, and like Liberia, Mali is one of the top twentyfive poorest nations in the world. Living standards are horrible. There is high mortality and life
expectancy only reaches fifty-three years of age. Most of its citizens are not educated because
there is a greater demand for laborers. The overall health of the people is low due to the high
risk of disease from the bad quality of food and water (“Central Intelligence Agency”).
There is a lot of unrest for the people of Mali; tough social conditions make progress
slow and agonizing. Because of the severity of sexual violence and inequality towards women,
activist groups have been forming. These groups have been seeing progress as they push for
equal rights laws. There are laws that give women property rights, educational rights and
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working rights, but poverty is a barrier that the groups cannot cross. Even though there are legal
rights, those rights are not being respected and practiced (“Women in Mali”). Women are still
hindered because poverty gets in the way of an education, a safe living environment, and equal
treatment.
Over the years women have been gaining respect for their gender, some more than others
and this is because of the amount of poverty a nation has. Poverty and wealth have the biggest
influence on the living standards of a society. Wealthy nations are filled with opportunities to
flourish, while nations in poverty are stuck in a fight for survival. This fight for survival brings
along unhealthy behaviors that contribute to the unfair treatment of women. Violence, disease,
and lack of knowledge run rampage through poor countries. Liberia and Mali are prime
examples of what happens when nations are in poverty. Both countries shared similar public
behavior including sexual violence and lack of rights for women. In the countries of Qatar and
Luxembourg, both prospered socially because poverty wasn’t in the way. Women were given
the opportunity of an education, a professional workplace, and other rights guaranteed by law.
As long as poverty overhangs on a society, women cannot gain the rights that they disserve.
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Works Cited
"A Short History of Women's Rights & Achievements in Luxembourg." Wort.Lu, 4 Mar. 2013.
Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
Bergman, Jerry. "The History of the Teaching of Human Female Inferiority in Darwinism."
Answers in Genesis. Answers in Genesis, Apr.-May 2000. Web. 03 Mar. 2013.
"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. CIA World Factbook, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
"Empower Women. End Poverty." ActionAid. ActionAid, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
Freedom House, Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa 2009 - Qatar, 11 February
2009. Web 09 Mar. 2013.
Gould, Stephen J. "Women's Brains." Natural History (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in The Language of
Composition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 349-51. Print.
"Liberia." Gender Equality in. Social Institutions & Gender Index, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
"Luxembourg." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. The
Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2013.
"Luxembourg." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Mar. 2013
Murali, Vijaya, and Femi Oyebode. "Poverty, Social Inequality and Mental Health." Advances in
Psychiatric Treatment (2004), Vol. 10, 216–22 22nd ser. 10.216 (2004): 218-23. "No
Vincent, Rachel. "Liberia: Justice in Their Own Hands." WOMENS RIGHTS: Liberia. Safe
World for Women, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
"Women in Mali." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.