Mongolian Women and Poverty During the Transition

Abstract

The spectacular achievements of three generations of Mongolian women under a pro-women socialist policy helped to transform Mongolia from a near-feudal autocracy to a modern state. The modernity achieved by women and the economic and social independence of the female half of the population is being severely undermined during the current period of transition to a market economy. The last few years have been characterised by a loss of well-being for almost all: loss of jobs for many and loss of the social support systems upon which the young and future generations depend. However, the transition has had a disproportionate effect on women: they have lost more jobs than men and they have even lost themselves to the rising trend of maternal mortality.