Women in Chilean Society
A recent email asks:
I am doing a project on Chilean culture i was wondering if you could answer a few questions to help me out…what does an average Chilean woman do as an occupation?
The role of women in Chile has been changing over time. My experience in Chile was that it is a male dominated society with women still struggling to gain equality in the workplace and in general. Traditionally women were mothers and wifes that stayed at home during the day to take care of the house and children. I saw many mamitas that fit this role as I went from house to house in Santiago. Nevertheless, I also met many women who worked in a wide array of jobs. I personally met women who worked in these occupations, among others:
- Store Clerk
- Street Vendor in the Feria
- Retirement Plan Administrator
- Accountant
- Fruit Picker and Packer
The bottom line is that women are employed in jobs across a vast variety of industries and occupations in Chile.
A recent article in the Miami Herald reiterates many of the problems I saw during my time in Chile:
Fewer women work in Chile than in any other Latin American country, and they earn much less than men. Wife-beating continues to be a too-common tradition.
Unfortunately, I saw the after effects of these beatings. In my opinion, any man that beats his wife or kids is a coward and a disgrace.
The role of women in Chile is changing and the near future may even bring their first female president. Recent polls indicate that one of two female candidates will win the next presidential election. This would be a great step forward for this traditionally male dominated society.
Posted April 19th, 2005 in Ask Pepe, Culture.
Keep up-to-date with the latest from Pepe's Chile:
Sign up for email updates Subscribe to Pepe's RSS Feed
(1)”Fewer women work in Chile than in any other Latin American country”, and(2) “they earn much less than men”. (3)”Wife-beating continues to be a too-common tradition”.
(1)Could be.
(2) This is also normal in many first world economies, europe, japan, you name it.
(3) Please, this happen, but this is far from to be a “tradicion” or a tipical feature of the Chilean culture, poor educated and drunk people do that in every country in the world, it is very sad but happens everywhere.
May 28, 2005
hi
i agree with Gustavo in his comments. a few days ago i read that there is practically no country in the world where women earn as much money as men do.
i would also like to add that you didn’t mention the fact that there are professional women in chile indeed. half of the university students are women!
anyway, i think that your website about chile is great! there are some grammar issues, but the texts are ok. all the info is precise and interesting; and it pictures chilean reality very very well. you’ve done a great job. congratulations!
July 6, 2005