Feminization of poverty refers to a trend of increasing inequality in living standards between men and women due to the widening gender gap in poverty. This phenomenon largely links to how women and children are disproportionately represented within the lower socioeconomic status community in comparison to men within the same socioeconomic status. Causes of the feminization of poverty include the structure of family and household, employment, sexual violence, education, climate change, "femonomics" and health. The traditional stereotypes of women remain embedded in many cultures restricting income opportunities and community involvement for many women. Matched with a low foundation income, this can manifest to a cycle of poverty and thus an inter-generational issue.

Entrepreneurship is usually perceived as the cure-all solution for deprivation depletion. Advocates assert that it guides to job design, higher earnings, and lower deprivation prices in the towns within it happens. Others disagree that numerous entrepreneurs are generating low-capacity companies helping regional markets.

This term was originated in the U.S. towards the end of the twentieth century and maintains prominence as a contested international phenomenon. Some researchers describe these issues as prominent in some countries of Asia, Africa and areas of Europe. Women in these countries are typically deprived of income, employment opportunities and physical and emotional help putting them at the highest risk of poverty. This phenomenon also differs between religious groups, dependent on the focus put on gender roles and how closely their respective religious texts are followed.

Feminisation of poverty is primarily measured using three international indexes. These indexes are the Gender Development Index, the Gender Empowerment Measure and the Human Poverty Index. These indexes focus on issues other than monetary or financial issues. These indexes focus on gender inequalities and the standard of living, and highlight the difference between human poverty and income poverty.

The concept of the 'feminization of poverty' dates back to the 1970s and became popular in the 1990s through some United Nations documents. It became a prominent in popular society after a study focusing on gender patterns in the evolution of poverty rates in the United States was released.

The feminization of poverty is a relative concept based on a women-men comparison. For instance, feminization of poverty exists if poverty in a society is distinctly reduced among men and is only slightly reduced among women. For example, in the United States during the year of 2016, 14.0% of women and 11.3% of men were below the poverty threshold.

The feminization of poverty is a contested idea with a multitude of meanings and layers. The International Poverty Centre defines feminization of poverty in two parts: feminization, and poverty. Feminization designates gendered change; something becoming more feminine, by extension more familiar or severe among women or female-headed households. Poverty is a deficit of resources or abilities. The International Poverty Centre likewise depicts the escalating role that gender discrimination has in determining poverty. For instance, an increase of wage discrimination between males and females can also exacerbate poverty among women and men of all types of families. This phenomenon highlights the relationship between poverty and sexism against women.

The concept also served to illustrate the many social and economic factors contributing to women's poverty.