Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Iron deficiency is a hidden crisis affecting over 40% of women in low- and middle-income countries, with severe health and economic consequences.
- Anemia, caused by iron deficiency, leads to chronic exhaustion, weakened immunity, and reduced cognitive function, preventing women from reaching their full potential.
- Iron deficiency weakens entire communities for generations – When women are too exhausted to work, care for their families, or participate in education and decision-making, the effects ripple across generations.
- The first 1,000 days are critical – Good nutrition from conception to a child’s second birthday prevents lifelong health issues and helps break the cycle of malnutrition.
- Men must be part of the solution – Engaging men in maternal and child nutrition, decision-making, and food distribution is key to achieving lasting gender-equitable food systems.
The Gender Gap in Food and Nutrition Security
Food is political, and so is hunger. Yet, in many places, food systems and nutrition programs still fail to address one of the most fundamental factors influencing food security: gender. Women and girls are often the first to eat last, receive the least nutritious portions, and have little control over household food resources. These realities are deeply embedded in social norms, traditional gender roles, and economic inequalities, making food and nutrition security a feminist issue.
The Iron Women Who Keep Communities Thriving—And Why Their Strength Deserves More Recognition and Support
There is a widespread misconception that men, often taller and stronger in their physique, deserve the biggest portion and best nutrition. But in reality, women are the true high-performers of our societies, constantly undergoing biological processes—such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation—that demand a more complex and varied intake of micronutrients.
Women and girls need about one-third more iron than men (approximately 16 mg per day for females vs. 11 mg per day for males), and pregnant women require up to 27 mg daily to support the growing fetus and increased blood volume.
Iron—alongside vitamin A, folate, vitamin B12, and riboflavin—is essential for strength and vitality. As a key component of hemoglobin, it helps transport oxygen through the body, fueling energy levels, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Without enough iron, the body cannot produce sufficient hemoglobin, leading to anemia, which causes extreme fatigue, dizziness, and a weakened immune system.
Why Do Women Need More Iron Than Men?
- Menstruation: Every month, women undergo a high-performance cycle, including hormonal shifts, ovulation, and the buildup of the uterus to prepare for a potential pregnancy, followed by menstruation. This complex process requires significant energy and nutrient support, and the loss of iron during menstruation makes replenishment crucial.
- Pregnancy: During pregnancy, iron needs nearly double to support the growing fetus. Iron is necessary for oxygen transport, and a deficiency can result in complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental delays in infants.
- Post-Pregnancy: After giving birth, a woman’s iron stores are often depleted, leading to exhaustion, prolonged recovery times, and difficulties in breastfeeding due to reduced energy levels.
- Menopause and Beyond: Even after menopause, iron remains essential. A lifetime of deficiency can result in osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and cognitive decline.
“Iron deficiency robs women of their strength—and their potential.”
The Reality of Iron Deficiency in Low-Income and Crisis Contexts
Imagine a mother who has just given birth, yet she is too weak to lift her newborn. Her body is exhausted, not just from labor but from iron deficiency. “I cannot stay awake,” she whispers, struggling to keep her eyes open. Without enough iron, she lacks the energy to care for her child the way she wants. This is what chronic iron deficiency does—it robs women of their strength and their potential. They often feel as if they are in a constant state of depression, a shadow of their true selves.
When a woman is iron-deficient, the ripple effects spread far beyond her own health: For her children, babies born to iron-deficient mothers are more likely to suffer from low birth weight, developmental delays, and weakened immune systems. For her family, a constantly exhausted mother cannot provide the level of care, emotional support, and engagement she would if she were adequately nourished. For her community, women are the backbone of many economies, especially in agriculture and caregiving roles. When they are iron-deficient, productivity decreases, and entire communities suffer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iron deficiency affects over 40% of women in low- and middle-income countries, with women in crisis areas facing even higher rates due to a combination of poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare, and the stresses of displacement. In sub-Saharan Africa, 56% of women are affected by iron deficiency, and in some conflict zones, that number can reach as high as 70%.
Gender Inequality in Nutrition Impacts Generations of Families and Communities
Malnutrition and iron deficiency does not just affect an individual; it fuels harmful cycles, including child marriage and early pregnancies. In many communities, families facing food insecurity see child marriage as a means to ensure their daughters are fed and financially secure. When parents cannot afford to feed and provide school education for their daughters, they are more likely to approve early marriages. However, young girls who are married off early are particularly vulnerable. Without completing their education, they often lack decision-making power and are entirely dependent on their spouses. The likelihood of continuing to suffer from hunger or malnutrition in such marriages is high. If they become pregnant while malnourished, the risks for both mother and child are severe. Especially long-term effects will affect the health and economic status of the next generation. This cycle of hunger, malnutrition, and vulnerability perpetuates inequality for generations.
I saw a glimpse of such structures first-hand when I worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I sat with a group of women farmers who told me, almost casually, that the hardest labor—digging the land, harvesting, carrying produce—was always done by them, even when pregnant. They smiled when they said it, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “What do the men do?” I asked. “They play board games, they wait for us at home” one of them said. “Or they drink. And sometimes, they help—but only if we promise them the biggest fish for dinner.”
Reflecting this, I realized how deeply embedded these structures are—and, more or less, prevalent anywhere in the world. Even when women take on the heaviest burdens, they must negotiate for the most basic support. Often, this stems from a simple lack of awareness on both sides. This unawareness perpetuates a cycle where women, despite their critical roles, continue to receive inadequate nutrition.
Breaking the Cycle through the 1,000-day window
Efforts to integrate feminist principles into food and nutrition security often face resistance due to cultural traditions and power structures. Many women lack financial independence, as they do not control household income or land ownership. In some cases, attempts to economically empower women—such as providing cash assistance—have led to increased domestic violence when men feel their authority is being challenged.
Breaking this cycle requires systemic change—one that starts with recognizing the crucial link between nutrition, gender, and power structures.
The “1,000-day window”—from conception to a child’s second birthday—is a critical period in breaking this cycle. During this time, the brain undergoes its most rapid development, reaching about 80% of its adult size and forming foundational structures for future learning, behavior, and health. Malnutrition during this time can cause irreversible cognitive and physical impairments, including stunting, weakened immune systems, and lower learning capacity later in life. Nearly half of all child deaths under five are linked to undernutrition, which is often preventable with proper maternal and infant nutrition. Good nutrition in the first 1,000 days prevents life-long health issues and builds stronger, healthier communities.
So, how do we shift these structures and ensure gender-equitable food systems that last? Households need to navigate this window together, which requires structural changes beyond providing food: it demands shifting power dynamics, ensuring women’s decision-making in household nutrition, engaging men in supporting maternal and child health, and challenging deeply ingrained gender norms that keep women and girls undernourished.
How to Build a Gender-Equitable Food System That Lasts
“Encouraging men to accompany their wives to medical visits can help ensure they understand the higher nutritional needs of women.”
As policymakers, donors, and proposal writers, you can prioritize solutions that create lasting change by:
- Acknowledge the importance of healthy nutrition status from early age on and protect the first 1,000 days as a crucial window of opportunity to break the cycle of malnutrition. Create more awareness about this crucial time window for all genders at family, household, community, and national levels.
- Engaging Men in Nutrition Education: Programs should involve men in discussions about food distribution, child nutrition, and maternal health. Encouraging men to accompany their wives to medical visits not only fosters understanding of women’s higher nutritional needs but also helps shift household dynamics toward more equitable decision-making in nutrition.
- Integrating Gender Equity into Schools: Raising awareness about gender roles at an early age can help shift perceptions and create more equitable societies. Students are invited to reflect on gender roles and explore ways to create change. School-based nutrition programs should also focus on the nutritional needs of adolescent girls to ensure they enter adulthood healthier.
- Advocating for Women’s Land and Financial Rights: Without secure land tenure, women farmers remain vulnerable. Strengthening legal protections for women’s land ownership and financial inclusion is crucial for long-term food and nutrition security.
- Ensuring Safe Spaces for Women: Community-led initiatives that provide support groups for women can help them share knowledge, voice concerns, and access resources without fear of stigma or violence.
- Create dialogues among men and women: Transforming change comes with new challenges for men and women at household level, especially when looking into power structures. Dialogues should open space for concerns, questions and debates on how to realize this change. Dialogues will expose barriers to structural change.
Beyond Aid: Building a Gender-Equitable Food System
The humanitarian sector has made strides in recognizing the importance of gender-sensitive food security programs, but there is still a way to go. Donors and policymakers must support gender-transformative approaches that go beyond short-term relief and address the root causes of food insecurity.
At Malteser International, we are pushing for gender-transformative programming in food and nutrition security, integrating gender equity into integrated health programming with local communities and policymakers. The shift from “women-focused” to “equity-driven” programming is essential. It is not enough to simply include women in food and nutrition security projects; we must address the systemic barriers that keep them from achieving food sovereignty. And don’t get me wrong on this, I am convinced it is crucial to walk this path together with men and women equally, and not be against men. Understanding gender roles and its implications on power relations and responsibilities is an essential first step for all genders.
Gender-equitable food systems aren’t just about fairness—they are the foundation of healthier societies, stronger economies, and a future free from preventable malnutrition. The time to act is now—together, we can reshape the future of food security.