An increase in the divorce rate has also been observed in Mongolia. There are now over 36,000 female-headed households, in which women bear the entire responsibility for their 70,000 children. According to official statistics, about one-quarter of poor families are headed by women. The Law states that both parents are equally responsible for their children but in practice women bear the whole responsibility for housekeeping and for raising their children. Almost all women do their housework manually and many households have no running water or electricity supply.
Women continue to play a key role in animal husbandry, the basis of Mongolia's rural economy.
It is generally the woman's role to tend and milk the cattle, as well as to process the food and other animal products. This is normally a tiring manual activity, which is undertaken in addition to the household chores that are common to urban women. Changes that have taken place during the last two years, including the privatization of cattle, have led to a heavier work load on rural women due to families' attempts to enlarge their herds. It is now more difficult to disseminate information to rural women. Violence is becoming an increasing concern to women, both on the streets and in the family.