Government and Gender

Since the 20th century, the economic policies pursued by governments globally have failed to sustain development, largely because women, a substantial portion of the population, have been marginalized[Page 812]. Although in the early 18th century, governments of independent countries began to acknowledge women’s rights and gender equality, it was not until after World War II ended in 1945 that the political situation in a large number of independent countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe afforded the restoration of human rights. The efforts made by national governments since then to facilitate women’s entry into the workforce by providing equal opportunities for education and work have led to positive economic changes, but those changes have not been sustainable due to a host of factors including health care ...