Armenia

Crosscutting Gender Issuesparticipants in Gavar pointed out that in large families, the older female generation (i.e.,grandmothers or mothers-in-law) play a major role in family budgeting and make mostdecisions about expenses. On the other hand, making financial decisions (e.g., applying fora loan) are usually considered a man’s responsibility.85. Having a bank account may be one indicator of a woman’s financial independenceand integration into the formal economy. According to a survey conducted by theCaucasus Research Resources Centers, the number of women reporting that they havebank accounts more than doubled from 15% in 2011 to 34% in 2012, with the most recentfigures coming close to the number of men with bank accounts (for male respondents,the figures were 28% and 37%, respectively). Although the share of women who reportedthat they have personal savings did not show such an increase (a change from only 7.1% to10.3%), these figures too are comparable with how men report their savings patterns. 9886. Finally, poverty assessments that focus on economic status do not adequatelyconvey the extent to which women’s access to other resources may be limited. As noted,women devote considerable time in unpaid domestic work, child care, and voluntary socialand community activities, and these contributions have not been valued or included inthe gross domestic product (GDP). As a consequence of unpaid work, women are timepoor,especially with regard to pursuing entrepreneurial or civic activities. Women’s limitedaccess to such resources means that opportunities to create their own social and economiccapital are also restricted overall.2. Employment and Unemployment Patterns87. Armenia’s labor force (people 15–75 years old who are able to work) totals morethan 2.4 million people. There are significant differences in the economic activity rates ofwomen and men. Only 55.2% of women 15–75 years old are part of the economically activepopulation compared with 72.1% of men. 99 Among the country’s total female “economicallyinactive” population—women who are not employed or formally defined as unemployed(meaning they are not seeking formal work)—41.8% are housewives, and 21.9% areretirees. 10088. Most Armenians are employed in the private sector (71.3% of women and 82.1% ofmen), but women represent more than half of all employees in the public and communitysectors. 10189. Armenia has a high rate of self-employment, compared with other countries inEurope and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 2012, close to one-third ofboth women and men were self-employed. 102 Although a relatively small proportion of allworking people are employers, men are far more likely than women to have this status, as79.2% of all employers are male. 10398 Caucasus Research Resources Centers. 2013. Women in Armenia—Equality through Challenges! 6 April. http://crrcam.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/women-in-armenia-equality-through.html99 Women and Men in Armenia 2013, p. 107.100 Ibid., p. 110.101 Ibid., p. 116.102 Ibid., p. 120.103 Ibid.25