It is probably the single greatest factor contributing to women s poverty around the globe, because without the capacity to inherit property, credit and other forms of economic power for women are very difficult. She worked the land to feed the family, developed a small business of marketing the produce, cared for the ailing husband as he dies, and fed and cared for their children. One day she went to the local market to obtain food for the family, the husband died. When she returned from the market, she found the house locked up, and she was homeless, without land to farm, and with nothing except what she carried on her to market. Inheritance discrimination presents problems for women attempting to develop their own businesses as well, because whatever they earn belongs to the husband s heirs.
Bankers are therefore unwilling to extend credit to women however successful.
Copyright 1995, The Feminist Majority Foundation and New Media Publishing Inc.