Catalog

	Table of Contents
p. 8 of 29 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Development Challenges A. Economic Growth B. Poverty C. Private Sector Development D. Environmental Degradation E. Gender III. Key Variables Influencing Development IV. External Assistance V. Review of ADB Assistance and Strategy VI. The New Pacific Strategy

A Pacific Strategy for the New Millennium : II. Development Challenges

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E. Gender

22. The socioeconomic status of women remains a concern. This is even the case in PDMCs where women have traditionally been favored, such as in Tonga. Some of the PDMCs rank very low on the United Nations human development index (Figure 1), particularly with regard to education, functional literacy, and health and nutritional standards. In each of these categories, women are shown as being significantly disadvantaged compared with men. In many cultural groups, for example, it is customary that men are given priority access to the most nutritious high-protein foods, as well as limited food supplies.

23. Women’s tenurial and inheritance rights are slowly being eroded. The Pacific islands have both patrilineal and matrilineal cultures that define parameters of descent and inheritance. However, as a result of land tenure conversion and registration, women’s tenurial rights and women’s ability to make decisions on inheritance are being undermined. The new management structures are dominated by male interests. The power to own and control economic resources is vested in men at different levels, and women have considerably fewer opportunities than men, given their limited access to resources, power, and decision making. The traditional roles of women vary between countries, and even from one locality to another. In general, however, women have little influence or substantive power outside of their traditional responsibilities as mothers and food producers. Cultural attitudes regarding gender status and roles continue to create barriers for female students, and have a considerable effect on the level of parental support and encouragement for girls’ participation in other areas of development. When women undertake formal employment they work significantly longer hours as they fulfill workplace obligations in addition to domestic obligations at home. As a result of high dependence ratios due to high population growth rates, women often suffer from mental and physical stress.

24. Gender relations are undergoing considerable transformation. With the advent of formal education, employment, and the monetary economy, women are assuming greater economic responsibility. In most instances, this is a matter of necessity to supplement household incomes, but does not necessarily result in an increase in status of women. Male dominance continues to be entrenched. This situation is more pronounced in urban areas, which are not part of the subsistence economy and where there is less reliance on the extended family. As a result, there is a greater need for governments to recognize the diversity of roles filled by women, and the fact that women make significant unpaid contributions to the economy. Also, high population growth rates in several of the PDMCs remain a major concern. Of course, increasing population growth rates can be best addressed by educating women. This will result in smaller families, and better participation of women in national development.

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