The implications of the demographic transition for women, girls and gender equality: a review of developing country evidence

The demographic transition has become a dramatic global phenomenon, in which most developing countries are now participating. While much has been written about the impact of women’s roles and status on the transition, significantly less has been said about the relationship in the other direction, i.e., the implications of declining mortality and fertility for women’s lives. This paper presents a review of the evidence on these consequences in developing countries. It argues that although the demographic transition is generally a positive process for women, there is not always a straightforward link to improvements in female status and gender equality.