GENDER AND POVERTY: THE FEMINIZATION OR SOCIALIZATION OF POVERTY IN SPAIN?

We present in this article some analyses and reflections, beginning with the data of exploitation from the Income and Living Conditions Survey, within the ''Poverty and Gender in Spain'' investigation project (financed by the Woman's Institute, (CSO2008-03005-E/SOCI)). An analysis of poverty in terms of gender has been made, originating from the evolution of the global poverty ratio, as well as that of the factors that may explain the poverty differential between men and women. Considering this data, we believe it relevant to ask ourselves about the concept of feminization of poverty and its empirical basis, in order to conclude that, taking into account the higher percentage of poverty in women than in men, the differential may not be sufficient enough for us to assert that there is a feminization of poverty understood as a process in which the differences between male and female poverty are expanding.