Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The Feminine Face of Poverty

If you're a woman, or a man who cares about his mother, sister, or daughter, there's something you need to know. Seventy percent of those living in absolute poverty in our world -- that is starving or on the edge of starvation -- are female. Not only that, in our wealthy United States, women and children are the mass of the poor and the poorest of the poor.

Consider that in the United States women over the age of 65 are twice as poor as men in the same age group. And there's a reason poverty so disproportionately hits women. Most of these poor women were, or still are, caregivers. And we've got an economic system that gives no visibility or value to this essential work when it's done in the home.

Read the article: "The Feminine Face of Poverty"

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1 Comments:

  • Christian,
    This picture is such an accurate portrayal of hunger and hopelessness, given that it was taken during the Great Depression. I remember reading up on this picture. It was taken by a woman I believe who traveled across the US taking pictures of the people most effected by the depression. This woman and her children were living in a shack along with many others who were trying to find work after the dust bowl wiped out thousands of jobs in the south and midwest. There are more pics I remember, ones with close ups and you can see the wear and tear on her face and hands from the long and hard day and nights. Thanks for pointing out this problem. Being a very successful nation we still find it hard to provide for those that are in need. The other day I was driving to work and on the side of a building was an advertisement for the new H3 hummer and on the street below was a man pushing a cart full of cardboard as he searched for more to recycle and gain money for food. Amazing that things take precedent over the needy...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:09 PM  

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