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(2016) Social factors and community well-being, Dordrecht, Springer.

Gender equity and community well-being

Sharan B. Merriam

pp. 71-85

Community well-being is a function of many factors working in concert to promote an optimal quality of life for all members of a community. It is argued here that attention to gender equity including the education and health of girls and women has a direct impact on numerous indicators of community well-being. Numerous international studies suggest that attention to gender equity creates human and social capital that enables community well-being. Human capital is the knowledge, skills and health embodied in individuals and social capital refers to the patterns and qualities of relationships in a community characterized by norms of trust and reciprocity. Women's education has been linked to a reduction in infant and childhood mortality, socio-economic development, community development, physical and mental well-being as well as other factors. Attention to gender equity and in particular girls and women's education, leads to greater human and social capital which in turn leads to community well-being.

Publication details

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29942-6_5

Full citation:

Merriam, S. B. (2016)., Gender equity and community well-being, in Y. Kee, S. Jong lee & R. Phillips (eds.), Social factors and community well-being, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 71-85.

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