Status of women : indicators for twenty-five countries

A threshold measure of women"s status is devised for 29 economic and social indicators in areas such as poverty status, household leadership, education, employment, workload, and marriage patterns. Countries are then scored based on their achievement of specified levels for each indicator, and ranked according to overall scores. Distinct regional patterns emerge, with the Latin American countries scoring the best overall. The Philippines scored the highest in Asia, and Namibia in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings include the following. (1) In the majority of sub-Saharan African countries, the adult population of poorer households is more likely to be female, compared with the population of wealthier households. In Latin America and the Caribbean, distinct patterns favoring women are found. (2) While women"s access to education is increasing, women are far more likely than men to have no education, and less likely to have a secondary education in most countries surveyed. (3) Over half of women in rural areas have exposure to only one media source or none at all. In all sub-Saharan African countries and a few countries in Latin America and Asia, one-third or less of women have ever used a modern contraceptive. (4) The rate of women"s employment is highest in sub-Saharan Africa where in eight of the twelve countries, half of women are employed outside the home. Despite some encouraging signs, initiatives to improve the status of women in most countries have either not begun or are not adequate. The data suggest that women continue to be absolutely and relatively disadvantaged in most of the 25 countries examined in this report.