Will the 2019 ‘Latin American Spring’ increase women’s economic power?

Demands to tackle structural inequalities are at the heart of a wave of protests and civil unrest erupting across the Latin American region. From Bolivia, Uruguay, Ecuador, and Chile, to Haiti and Mexico, accountable governance and greater economic opportunity are key demands. In addition to this, on #25November, women demanded an end to gender-based violence in a region, in which the UN asserts 12 femicides (the killing of women) occur per day. This is because economic empowerment and gender-based violence are interrelated. Women’s participation in paid activities has become a policy objective globally that meets the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, reduces violence and contributes to women’s autonomy. Though women’s labour market access in the Latin American region has increased, according to an Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL) and International Labour Organization (ILO) report, significant gender participation and pay gaps persist. More women may be working, but deeper structural discrimination has yet to be addressed.

Having lived and worked there for three years at a feminist research and advocacy organisation, I want to put the spotlight on Mexico as a case study illustrating regional challenges for women at work. OECD data demonstrates that Mexico tops the list for hours worked in the region. Women work 74.4 hours weekly in Mexico, with 50 of these devoted to unpaid care work. The current Mexican government claims it will promote and build a feminist foreign policy. However, this seems unlikely given that Mexican law does not even guarantee basic labour rights to working women such as affordable child care. How can it promote feminism abroad before it addresses the gender pay gap, sexual harassment, and care barriers women encounter in the workplace?

What must be done?

Watershed movements like #MeToo have been great achievements, however, British economist Sylvia Pryce argues that increasing women’s economic power is at the root of achieving true, transformative change. Economic empowerment must be central to Latin American governments’ strategies. Pay legislation, quotas, and gender-sensitive labour incentives are urgent. To address grievances of recent protests, change needs to have a feminist perspective factored in, with public policies that address unpaid care work.

WiFP extends solidarity to feminist groups in Latin America, who are highlighting what Latin American states can do about the motherhood penalty, gender pay gaps, discrimination, sexual harassment and exclusion from top jobs. Feminist social and foreign policy analysis must emphasize that governments should mandate private organisations to implement flexible working hours, salary transparency and to promote women while they have children. For example, in the UK, positive change resulted when government policies obliged employers to publish their gender pay gaps. As demonstrated by the protests, regional disparities are causing discontent. Pushing multinational corporations to maintain new internal policies in all countries they work in is crucial in Latin America.

Claire Williams is WIFP’s Newsletter Coordinator with a background in conflict studies.