Much of the available evidence on women?s economic situation in the Pacific comes from household
income and expenditure surveys (HIESs), which do not usually disaggregate on the grounds of
gender. While there are some data about women?s income, most analysis of expenditure is conducted
at the household level and it is therefore difficult to examine trends in women and men?s spending.
Some surveys generate useful insights from comparing female-headed households (FHHs) with maleheaded households (MHHs).
Compared with other parts of the world, women in the Pacific region experience limited economic
empowerment (EIU 2012). In most Pacific countries, women tend to be under-represented in the
formal workforce, spend more time doing household work, and are paid less than men. FHHs are
more likely to be in poverty than MHHs. Key barriers to women?s economic empowerment include
poor educational attainment, patriarchal norms, customary law and a lack of land/property rights, a
lack of access to finance, a lack of skills and knowledge, and poor infrastructure