A Face Feminina da Pobreza: Sobre-Representação e Feminização da Pobreza no Brasil

In this article we discuss the concepts of over-representation in poverty and feminizationof poverty. Considering six definitions for feminization of poverty we test whetherthis process has been happening in Brazil from 1983 to 2003. Our results show nosupport for a consistent process of feminization of poverty during this time; however,female headed households with children are over-represented among the poor. Whenwe consider simulations for unequal intra-household distribution, even though wefound women over-represented among the poor, there was no evidence of a feminizationof poverty in the period analyzed.