THE FEMINIZATION OF HUMAN POVERTY IN ASIA VIS-À-VIS INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

An Ethical Review of the Adequacy of the Equality Agenda

Authors

  • Anthonette Collado Mendoza Philippines

Keywords:

Equality, Empowerment, Human Poverty, Integral Development

Abstract

This paper seeks to contribute to the discussions on making integral human development real for all. The feminization of human poverty is a critical issue in this pursuit for integral human development. An exploration of some social, cultural and political issues particularly in Asia shows not only the extent to which poverty is gendered, it also verifies the complexity of contexts, valuations, and approaches. Since inequalities conflate with gender, ethnicity, politics, law, and economics, the growth in perspective to the human development discourse must find a broader moral basis to anchor on. We argue here that the recognition of human dignity and moral interdependence must ground the equality agenda. The moral consideration for authentic human development goes beyond any plea for equality; it is more adequately, the consideration for the common good — the integral flourishing of women, children, elderly, and all, leaving no one behind.

Author Biography

Anthonette Collado Mendoza, Philippines

Anthonette Collado Mendoza is a doctoral student of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, at the Catholic University of Louvain. Her doctoral research explores the critical ethical hinges between the development thinking and practice of the United Nations’ Human Development Reports and the Catholic Social Thought. Her research interests include integral development, gender equality, migration, theological and development ethics, etc. Her study is based on her 15+ years field experience working with the rural and urban poor sectors in the Philippines and with the indigenous communities at the Peruvian Amazon. Email: annemen2000@yahoo.com

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Published

2016-06-30

How to Cite

Mendoza, A. C. (2016). THE FEMINIZATION OF HUMAN POVERTY IN ASIA VIS-À-VIS INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: An Ethical Review of the Adequacy of the Equality Agenda. Asian Horizons, 10(02), 257–271. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/ah/article/view/2061