A comparative study on economic status and poverty of rural women between China and Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The women economic empowerment and women’s poverty are the burning issues in developing economies especially in Pakistan. The study aims to compare the women economic problems and poverty in China and Pakistan and suggest polices for the women economic betterment in Pakistan. Methodology: The study was conducted during in two developing countries as China and Pakistan, and compared the women economic status in both countries. The primary data was collected from Anhui province in China and Sindh province in Pakistan. A total of 800 fully completed questionnaires including 400 in Pakistan and 400 in China used to explore the empirical results. Results: The findings showed most of the Pakistani women were doing skill work; some are involved in business and daily wage work. Study findings showed the married respondents with education and business were less poor in Pakistan. However, the majority of the women in China were observed as young, middle and old age with the education level of primary, middle, high school, and university, and major sampled women were married. The women’s of China were employed, doing business and supporting in household total income. The findings revealed that married women have middle, high school and University education and are employed are considered as very less poor. Those women’s in China who are unemployed, divorced and widowed are observed as poorer. Conclusions: The overall study concluded that Pakistani women were poorer, and were less powered compared with Chinese women because of less education and policies for women empowerment. The study suggested that policies implications for education equality, employment, and gender rights will supports women poverty.