7.5 Women and Economic Development

Measuring Gender and Development

Development experts use indices to compare women's status across countries. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) measures disparities in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor participation. The Gender Development Index (GDI) compares HDI values between men and women. Generally, as GDP per capita rises, gender inequality tends to decrease, but this is not automatic — cultural, political, and social traditions heavily shape outcomes.

Women's Role in Development

Women's labor force participation, access to education, and fertility rates are closely linked to a country's development level. As women gain more schooling, they often enter the workforce later, have fewer children, and gain greater economic independence. However, women in many countries still face the gender wage gap, limited property rights, and underrepresentation in government and formal economic sectors.

Barriers and Progress

In many less developed countries (LDCs), women perform significant unpaid labor (farming, childcare) that isn't counted in GDP, masking their true economic contribution. Microfinance programs, education initiatives, and political quotas have helped improve women's status. Still, gains in economic development don't always translate to gender equality — some wealthy nations retain high gender gaps, showing development and equality aren't perfectly correlated.

Key terms

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

A measure of disparities between men and women in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.

Gender Development Index (GDI)

An index comparing HDI values for men versus women within a country to reveal development gaps.

Gender wage gap

The difference in earnings between men and women performing similar work, often persisting even in developed countries.

Unpaid labor undercount

Women's informal work (farming, childcare) is often excluded from GDP, masking their real economic contribution.

Education and fertility link

As women's education levels rise, fertility rates tend to fall and workforce participation tends to increase.

Try an AP-style question

Educating girls tends to…

1. worsen health outcomes
2. lower fertility and raise incomes
3. raise fertility and family size
4. slow a country's development