One of the most notable characteristics of today's poverty in Latin America is the growing number of women among the poor. Today about 20 percent of the poorest households in Latin America are headed by women, but in some cities the percentage rises to almost 38 percent. A review of 22 studies of women-headed households in Latin America reveals that there is a strong correlation between female head-ship and

Because there are many women who lack education and skills, women in formal employment tend to be clustered in jobs that offer little potential for training or advancement. In Brazil, Chile, and Peru over 50 percent of economically active women work in the service sector 1988. Most of the women who do have a better paying jobs in the formal sector are self-employed. Usually self-employment doesn't have much potential for growth. The problem with women in the workforce doesn't stop there. In households where there is a male head of the house, a woman's income is still highly depended on. Female income is often a secondary or tertiary source of income. Many rural families rely upon the work of its female members for a lot of their food. Traditionally the money earned by men is used only for expenses, forcing the wife to make her own income in order to provide for other necessities. With less and less land becoming available for agriculture and unable to produce enough corn for the year,

Some common words found in the essay are:
Latin American, Chile Peru, Latin America, , latin america, households latin america, latin american women, headed women, headed households, american women, latin american, households latin,
Approximate Word count = 672
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)