This study investigates whether trends in the extent, depth and severity of poverty in South Africa over the past decade have been gendered. We examine first whether females are more likely to live in poor households than males, and whether this has changed over time; and, second, how poverty has changed among female-headed and male-headed households. We use data provided by the 1997 and 1999 rounds of the October Household Survey and the 2004 and 2006 rounds of the General Household Survey. These surveys have the advantage of collecting information on the individual receipt of social grant income. We test whether our findings on gendered trends in poverty are robust to different poverty lines, to the possible underestimation of household income and to adjustments for household composition.