Gender Earnings and Poverty Reduction: Post-Communist Uzbekistan

Abstract

Women get less of the material resources, social status, power and opportunities for self-actualization than men do who share their social location – be it a location based on class, race, occupation, ethnicity, religion, education, nationality, or any intersection of these factors. The process of feminization of poverty in Central Asia and Uzbekistan is intimately connected to the cultural and institutional limitations that put a ceiling on women’s involvement in economic activity. This article attempts to study and explore gender in the context of poverty reduction in Uzbekistan, the most populated state of Central Asia, to understand the ways and manner in which poverty and other forms of deprivation demand women’s participation in variety of contexts. The study is primarily an empirical one and is based on an extensive sociological investigation in the field.

Rainfall Variability and Labor Allocation in Uzbekistan: The Role of Women's Empowerment

“…Surveys indicate that 80% of the population in Uzbekistan supports the family model in which men are breadwinners and women are homemakers (FAO, 2019). Families in Uzbekistan are often extended and have patriarchal power structure with a high authority of elders, and boys controlling girls even when the girls are older (Bhat, 2011). Women are responsible for most household chores in the family, including taking care of children and the elderly, cooking (regularly and on special family occasions), and housekeeping (Tokhtakhodjaeva, 1997).…”

“…Moreover, especially in rural areas, the chores also include home-based activities to support household current consumption, including working in the garden plot, looking after livestock and poultry, and delivering water for drinking and domestic needs (Bhat, 2011). Women also have fewer opportunities for economic activities than men, and are often criticized for deviating from traditional roles and engaging in self-employment activities such as shuttle trade (Bhat, 2011;Kamp, 2005;Welter and Smallbone, 2008).…”

Gender and Poverty: Its Influence on Household Food Security in Africa

“…Since women are also expected to be responsible for house cleaning, collecting fuelwood, cooking, laundry, etc. (Bhat 2011). It therefore means they spend more time than men on domestic chores and family care (Padmaja et al 2019).…”

“…Women because of their sex and socioeconomic limitations form a greater proportion of the world poor, experiencing poverty at various levels and dimensions; suffering marginalization and exclusions in education, jobs, opportunities, asset owning, etc. (Bhat 2011;Sharma 2019). Yet, women are solely responsible for household food preparation, processing, and preservation.…”

“…Gender equality is a basic human right, and closing the gender gap is vital to achieving many development objectives (e.g., poverty alleviation/ eradication, access to quality education, healthcare, electricity). Gender equality is when women and men enjoy the same opportunities in all walks of life; including the consideration of women's interests in terms of rights, resource allocation, and decision-making of all kinds at all levels (Bhat 2011). As can be seen in Etim and Edet (2014), it was reported that ownership of land and homes were skewed in favor of men and this was attributed to the prevalent tenure system of land ownership in southern Nigeria where inheritance of land is mostly allowed among the male children.…”