The Phenomenon of Women’s illiteracy and its repercussion on the exacerbation of Poverty in Iraq

Abstract

This study addresses the phenomenon of women’s illiteracy in Iraq as one of the most critical social issues contributing directly to the exacerbation of multidimensional poverty. It explores the reciprocal relationship between illiteracy and poverty, particularly in light of Iraq’s ongoing economic and social transformations. The study is based on the hypothesis that the persistence of female illiteracy deepens poverty, despite governmental strategies, thus requiring integrated legislative and societal interventions. The research aims to analyze the root causes of the widespread illiteracy among women and explore effective mechanisms for addressing it through education and empowerment. It highlights the importance of combating female illiteracy as a tool to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development, especially in the context of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 4 (Quality Education), and Goal 5 (Gender Equality). The study adopts an inductive-analytical methodology and relies on data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2018), administrative records, and the 2023 Iraq Socio-Economic Household Survey. The findings indicate that cognitive empowerment of women is essential for addressing chronic poverty, and that illiteracy significantly hinders women’s socio-economic participation, particularly in rural areas.The study recommends the development of a comprehensive national strategy to eradicate female illiteracy, rooted in principles of social justice and gender equality. It also calls for integrating this effort into broader poverty reduction policies and sustainable development strategies