Beyond income: an analysis of gendered wellbeing and poverty in Zimbabwe

Abstract

A large body of literature on the feminization of poverty and research findings in various countries, including Zimbabwe, show that women- headed households are more vulnerable and their incomes tend to fall below the poverty line (for example Achuwilor, 2004). There are a number of factors that predispose women, especially women-headed households, to poverty. Major poverty studies on Zimbabwe, such as the UNDP Human Development Report and the Poverty Assessment Survey Study (PASS) highlight the feminization of poverty (GoZ, 1996; UNDP, 1997; GoZ, 2006). This Chapter begins by reviewing the various studies of gendered poverty7 in Zimbabwe. This is followed by an analysis of the results of the Moving Zimbabwe (MZF) study which examined some gender differences, particularly characteristics of male- and female-headed households, and educational attainment of children.