About women’s situation

In rural areas of underdeveloped countries, women often have a miserable lot. An Indian proverb says: "Raising a girl is like watering your neighbors’ plants." Traditionally, girls of lower social levels get married much too early. Early marriage often means that they can’t attend school. Getting a vocational education is hard or even impossible for them. Upon marriage, the woman becomes part of the husband’s family. If she becomes a widow, however, the family doesn’t necessarily keep on caring for her. Especially if she has "just" a daughter, she might be dismissed. Another marriage would be too

expensive for her parents. Another problem is that husbands often abandon wives, even those with children. The women then have to take care of themselves and their children with no outside support. If they find work at all, it is poorly paid work, picking cotton or chilli peppers, for instance, for 50 cents a day.