Gender Inequality Women s Empowerment - 2907 Words

Women’s Empowerment In Peru Andy Devries INTRODUCTION Gender determines the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a society deems appropriate based on one’s gender identification. Being a man or woman shapes one’s roles in society, whether in the labor market or among a family. These roles are dynamic and vary by society. Gender inequality can exist when gender roles support established injustices between men and women. Women are more susceptible to and are disproportionately affected by such inequalities (1). To challenge gender inequality, women must gain influence through a process of women’s empowerment. Empowerment has the capacity to challenge societal inequities such as gender inequality.†¦show more content†¦The Global Gender Gap Index, introduced in 2006 to capture the magnitude and scope of gender-based inequalities through economic, political, education and health criteria, ranked Peru #78. Peru sits among other Latin American countries in this index: #62 Brazil, #82 Mexico, #63 Colombia, and #32 Argentina. There is a pronounced difference in the value placed on the roles of men and women, which reflects the traditional patriarchal culture of rural Peru. The Latin family structure exists as a balance between the authoritative father and the loving homemaker mother (5). The lack of recognition of women’s roles in Peruvian life has lead to their under-representation in economic, political, social, and familial issues (8). In the rural setting, men and women do much of the same agricultural work. Women are often tasked with the additional responsibilities of caring for their children and homes, yet such work is not adequately valued. Peruvian women’s’ literacy rates are lower than their male counterparts: 84.6% of females 15 and older are literate compared to 94.9% of males, according to 2007 estimates (11). Although women have a higher illiteracy rate than men, an increasing number of women are receiving higher education. Such efforts to promote and recognize gender equality in Peru can improve household incomes as well as increase inclusion and equality in a society that is struggling to overcome poverty (8). Over the past 30 years, the women s movement has