The findings suggested that womens life expectancy relative to that of men responded most positively to increased female labour force participation and literacy rates, which enhanced women’s voice and bargaining power within the economy (Seguino, 2002a). Economic growth was positively correlated with progress on SIGE for the two highest income quartiles, but negatively correlated in the two lowest income quartiles. Higher rates of economic growth in the poorer countries were associated with a deterioration in overall gender equality.