Written by Joseph Mwita Kisito
It’s no secret that poverty affects everyone, regardless of gender. But, let us be real: girls and women from poorer backgrounds often bear a disproportionate burden. Talk of early pregnancies, teenage parenthood, HIV/AIDS, unsafe sex and sexually transmitted diseases, partner violence, sexual violence, lack of access to sex education services, and the list goes on. Empirical research has shown that, from socio-economic and cultural perspectives, poverty often presents different outcomes for girls and boys, with girls being particularly disadvantaged, not only in the present but across generations (Adomako, Zhou & Amarteifio, 2023; Ramalho & Chant, 2021; Ngidi et al, 2024).
The Grim Reality of Childhood Poverty for Girls
Childhood poverty is detrimental to the health and well-being of all individuals later in life, but the scenario paints a grimmer picture for girls. For those in marginalized communities, the situation can be unbearable. Research by Sikhwari (2024) and Singh (2025) attest that cultural norms, such as forced or early marriages and caregiving roles, disproportionately affect girls from low-income families. These norms often limit their chances for exposure, education, and pursuit of career aspirations. For instance, in resource-constrained households, boys are often given priority in education while girls’ schooling is relegated to the back burner (Chipuriro, 2021). This disparity severely affects their potential for economic independence and self-empowerment in adulthood.
The risks of gender-based violence also loom larger for girls, subjecting them to lifelong physical, emotional, and mental health challenges. Early exposure to violence, limited access to education, and restricted opportunities create a vicious cycle of poverty and poor quality of life that follows women throughout their lives. Not forgetting the double-burden of domestic and career/work responsibilities.
The Unique Burden of Poverty on Women
For women, the interplay between historical, social, and cultural inequalities can make the impact of poverty even harsher. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, women typically earn less than men for the same work (Van den Broeck., Kilic & Pieters, 2023; Williams, Väisänen & Padmadas, 2022). Career interruptions due to maternity leave and caregiving responsibilities often disrupt women’s financial security. These interruptions exacerbate financial insecurity in retirement, often leaving older women in more precarious situations compared to older men. These views have been reiterated in a number of studies in Kenya’s urban informal settlements, further emphasizing the disproportionate manner in which poverty burdens women and girls (Wakibi & Oleche, 2024; Machoka, Kabiru & Ajayi, 2024).
Although women generally outlive men, the additional years to a historically disadvantaged woman often come with poorer health and poverty, turning longevity into a burden. In one of my field research interactions with older persons in Nairobi, Kenya, a 72 years’ old woman intimated to me the following:
“they say old age is a good thing as it comes with increased wisdom and other social benefits to the younger generations, but to a poor older woman, this sometimes looks more like a curse rather than a blessing”
Despite stronger social networks for women that can provide emotional support and enhanced mental health, the financial insecurity and caregiving responsibilities in old age can invalidate these advantages, leaving older women vulnerable and marginalized.
Gender Pressures Across the Life Course
While girls face cultural and societal barriers such as the gender stereotypes related to feminine ‘household’ roles, boys are not immune to societal pressures (Bush et al, 2022). The expectation for men to take on a ‘breadwinner’ role, and adopt ‘manly’ ideals often take a toll on their mental health, especially in poverty-stricken environments. These societal demands to accrue wealth and attain success for the sake of their families can push many men into mental health crises when their efforts fail to meet these ideals (Moore, 2023). For both genders, the struggle to break free from the cycle of poverty can be a relentless and backbreaking journey.
Poverty does not just affect your wallet; it also takes a serious toll on your health and that of future generations. But, to the socioeconomically underprivileged women, the situation can be torturous. For children, poverty increases the risk of malnutrition, limited healthcare access, and other disparities that result in long-term health challenges. These effects persist into adulthood and old age, compounding the challenges of individuals who grew up in deprived environments.
Toward a Better Future: What’s the way forward?
Despite the different ways in which gender influences men’s or women’s lives, childhood poverty acts as a catalyst for poor quality life in later life, especially among women. Girls growing up in poverty face unique challenges in education, health, and social expectations. Boys, on the other hand, often struggle with societal demands of pragmatism and wealth accumulation as a marker of who a ‘real man’ ought to be. All these expectations or demands tend to follow individuals into their adulthood. Addressing these disparities requires targeted, gender-responsive policies and practices that account for the unique needs and challenges of each gender.
The path to healthy and happy living through the life course is not a matter to be left to chance. It must begin early. Collective efforts are imperative to break the cycle of poverty, ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and equal life opportunities for every child, regardless of gender. After all, healthy ageing isn’t just about adding years to life; it’s about ensuring that those years are worth living at every stage of life.
About the Author
Joseph Mwita Kisito is a lecturer and Migori Learning Center Coordinator in The East African University, Kenya, teaching a wide range of social sciences in the School of Business. Also a social research consultant (Swift Research Consulting), and a Blog Commissioning Editor of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP), Joseph has a multidisciplinary background in humanities (BA in literature & philosophy) & social sciences (MA in medical sociology, & MSc in social gerontology), having won a Commonwealth Commission Scholarship to pursue one of his postgraduate degrees in the University of Southampton, UK. He is passionate about research on gender, and older people’s welfare. He has previously done research consultancy work for HelpAge International, University of Southampton/Kenyatta University, and Kenya Red Cross in various projects on the broader theme of Ageing and older persons’ wellbeing. He has a number of published journal articles.
References
Adomako, G. P., Zhou, L., & Amarteifio, E. N. A. (2023). Socio-cultural and economic determinants of girl child education in Ashaiman municipality of the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(2), 2275431.
Bush, T., Kirezi, J., Ashford, R., & Glover, D. (2022). School leadership and gender in Africa: A systematic overview. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 7(4), 680-712.
Chipuriro, R. M. (2021). Land reform and local economic development: elderly women farmers’ narratives in Shamva District, Zimbabwe. University of Johannesburg (South Africa).
Machoka, B. N., Kabiru, C. W., & Ajayi, A. I. (2024). “My father insisted that I have the baby but not in his house”: Adolescent pregnancy, social exclusion and (dis) empowerment of girls in an urban informal settlement in Kenya. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(9), e0003742.
Moore, A. E. (2023). Body horror: Capitalism, fear, misogyny, jokes. Feminist Press at CUNY.
Ngidi, N. D., Ntinga, X., Tshazi, A., & Moletsane, R. (2024). Blesser relationships among orphaned adolescent girls in contexts of poverty and gender inequality in South African townships. Plos one, 19(10), e0299190.
Ramalho, J., & Chant, S. (2021). “Missing Girls” in Urban Slums of the Global South?: Exploring the Intersections Between Puberty, Poverty, and Gender Inequality. In Inclusive Urban Development in the Global South (pp. 17-30). Routledge.
Sikhwari, M. (2024). Gender Disparities in Educational Wastage: Analysing the Factors Contributing to Female Dropout Rates in Rural South Africa. African Journal of Development Studies (formerly AFFRIKA Journal of Politics, Economics and Society), 2024(si1), 289-303.
Singh, B. (2025). Enormities of Early Marriages of Girls Lensing Physical-Mental Health Impairments: Projecting Socio-Legal Implications in Global Context. In Social, Political, and Health Implications of Early Marriage (pp. 237-260). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.
Van den Broeck, G., Kilic, T., & Pieters, J. (2023). Structural transformation and the gender pay gap in Sub-Saharan Africa. Plos one, 18(4), e0278188.
Wakibi, S., & Oleche, M. (2024). A Study on Women in the Labour Force in Kenya. Women’s Economic Empowerment Hub (WEE-Hub), University of Nairobi.
Williams, E. M., Väisänen, H., & Padmadas, S. S. (2022). Women’s economic empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. Demographic Research, 47, 415-452.