ABSTRACT
The status of women has many varied dimensions, some not directly measurable. A number of models have been developed concerning the relationship between economic development and women's labor force participation. Between 1950 and 1980, the ratio of economically active women to economically active men declined somewhat in sub-Saharan Africa, which is composed of countries at very early stages of economic development, whereas it increased in varying degrees in the rest of the world. Women's economic status is undoubtedly influenced not only by their labor force participation per se but also by their occupations and how much they are paid, two facets that are riot unrelated. Women's labor force participation, occupations, and earnings are all expected to be related to their level of education. Female labor force participation has been shown to be negatively related to the number of children present, especially in industrialized countries where paid work is not readily combined with child care.
