Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37936

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Examining the Effect of Women’s Empowerment on Multidimensional Poverty: Case of South Africa
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ratshivhand, Thonifho; Benhura, Miracle
This study examines the levels and correlations of individual women’s empowerment and household level multidimensional poverty in South Africa, overall and by rural/ urban location. The Alkire-Foster (2011) techniques is employed for the construction of the Women Empowerment Index (WEI) and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and a logistic regression analysis is employed to ascertain whether women’s empowerment is negatively correlated to multidimensional poverty. The study uses the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) dataset and estimates that 3.2% of South African households are multidimensionally poor, with a higher prevalence in rural areas. In both rural and urban areas, the standard of living dimension contributed most to MPI. Regarding WEI, women residing in urban areas (67.3%) are more empowered compared to those residing in rural areas (53.9%), with attitude towards domestic violence dimension contributing most to women’s empowerment. Findings from logistic regressions show that women’s empowerment is negatively associated with multidimensional poverty in South Africa. Women in older age groups and better paid occupations are associated with lower multidimensional poverty, also non-Black/African women and those residing in urban areas have a lower chance of experiencing multidimensional poverty, than Black/African women and those residing in urban areas. Overall, this study highlights the importance of addressing women's empowerment as a key strategy for poverty reduction in South Africa. The results suggest a need for customised strategies to improve women’s empowerment and reduce multidimensional poverty in South Africa's rural and urban areas.
The impact of ‘compensating’ women for hours of unpaid care work on household poverty
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Shedi, Olwethu; Benhura, Miracle
Estimating the effect of ‘compensating’ women for unpaid care work on household poverty levels, we used Time Use Survey data for 2000 and 2010 to estimate time spent on unpaid care work, and Post-Apartheid Labour Market Series to estimate earnings for both 2000 and 2010. To achieve this, we used the Economy- wide Mean wage approach, the Opportunity Cost Average wage approach, and the Generalist wage approach. In line with literature, we confirm that, on average, women spend more time on unpaid care work than men do, and that women's average earnings are lower than that of men. We found that the estimated monthly ‘compensation’ does indeed reduce the level of household poverty. However, the Generalist wage approach compensation had the least impact on household poverty levels. Unpaid care work affects women all around the world. While some countries have made progress in recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work, women continue to bear the brunt of the burden. Governments have a role to play in encouraging a more equitable distribution of unpaid household care duties. Flexible work hours and shared parental leave are two options for businesses to facilitate more equitable split of unpaid family care duties and assist women in achieving a better work/life balance.