ABSTRACT
The triangle of environment–gender–sustainable development has been studied from different angles over the years, mostly looking at sexual division of labor and feminization of poverty. Through the Millennium Development Goals, the critical role of women in moving forward has been underlined. But while there have been some improvements, gaps remain between men and women in terms of empowerment and their capacity to make decisions in relation to environmental issues and sustainable development. In rural communities of developing countries, two scenarios can occur. It is possible that the family stays together and the man travels to town only once in a while to sell produce. In these situations, little money comes back to the household, either because of low prices for the produce or the use of the gain by the men in town for luxuries or festivities. In addition, the sexual division of labor makes women, especially poor rural women, important contributors to agriculture, and often makes them solely responsible for the collection of firewood, fodder, and water. In the second scenario, the man of the household leaves the family for the city to find employment. In this circumstance, the woman is left with the children at home and must ensure that the household remains functional. In both cases, women are limited in providing for the family (mainly the children). With little or no financial means, they must rely on subsistence agriculture to feed the family. Very few women in those conditions can find work and provide through alternative means.
