ABSTRACT

This chapter examines women's situation in relation to poverty and the impact of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): their gender-neutral approach, failure to engage with the limitations of neo-liberal forms of social development and incapacity to address structural inequalities. It examines how the current penchant for austerity measures that dominates social policy discourses internationally, especially in Western Europe where welfare states had cushioned many structural inequalities that adversely affected women, further reinforces existing inequalities rather than addressing them and makes women responsible for enhancing family wellbeing. Feminists and social workers have important roles to play in challenging development discourses and assisting practitioners and students to co-work with women in their local communities to enhance wellbeing and promote community resilience. The chapter draws out the implications of the analysis for research and teaching in social work. Globalisation has intensified the instability of the economic system by treating people and the ecosystem as means to economic ends and by increasing economic inequalities.