This paper uses newly released labor market panel data and household budget survey data to
determine whether Egypt had a “feminization of poverty” problem during the last 15 years. The
period of study is one during which poverty as a whole has been increasing, and major economic,
social and political changes took place. Determining whether female headed households face a
disproportionate burden of poverty and whether this burden is rising over time, in addition to the
individual specific/economy wide factors contributing this poverty, is crucial to efforts
attempting to design poverty targeting programs that make the best use of resources. This is
especially pertinent in light of the strong revolutionary demands for “social justice” in post
January 2011 Egypt