The extent of these internal biases is strongly influenced by the economic status of women. Studies have found that where women’s share of income within the home is relatively high, there is less discrimination against girls, and
women are better able to meet their own needs as well as those of their children. When household income is marginal, most of women’s income is contributed toward household nutritional intake. Since this fraction is considerably smaller
for men, a rise in male earnings leads to a less than proportionate increase in the funds available for the provision of daily needs. It is thus unsurprising that programs designed to increase nutrition and family health are more effective when
targeting women than when targeting men. In fact, significant increases in total household income do not necessarily translate into improved nutritional status (see Chapter 8). The persistence of low levels of living among women and children is common where the economic status of women remains low. Box 5.1 provides some views of the poor on gender relations.