Marriage and Money Widows in India Marriage and

Marriage and Money: Widows in India

Marriage and Money: Current Conditions Widows in India Viviane Dalles

Widows in India Setting the Stage —For many women, their economic status is tied to their marital status —Widows are uniquely vulnerable to poverty — 50% of the estimated 100 million widows in the developing world are impoverished

Widows in India —India produces 12% of the world’s cotton — 60 million people depend on the cotton and textile industries —Many farmers borrowed heavily to buy expensive genetically modified seeds —Unable to pay debts and support their families, thousands of farmers have committed suicide Viviane Dalles

Widows in India Ask Yourself —What are the implications, positive and negative, when a woman’s economic well-being is tied to her marital status? Viviane Dalles

Vijaya, age 22. Photo credit: Viviane Dalles

Lalitha, age 24 Photo credit: Viviane Dalles

Widows in India Proposed Solutions —All women should have access to education, good jobs and support for domestic duties —Provide systemic support for widows —Societies need to support the economic rights and empowerment of all women

Widows in India Learn More at www. imow. org Essay: Karen Offen Podcast: Peace Musiimenta Interview: Heather Ibrahim-Leathers Video: family law reform in Morocco

Widows in India What You Can Do Make a donation to The Loomba Foundation Campaign against dowry with SACHET Spread the word about this issue

Widows in India Follow us online www. imow. org facebook. com/International. Museumof. Women twitter. com/IMOWomen