August 2007

Women's contribution to equality in Latin America and the Caribbean

Women's contribution to equality in Latin America and the Caribbean brings to the fore two key issues in the structural pattern of inequality between women and men: first, political participation and gender parity in decision-making processes at all levels, and, second, women's contribution to the economy and social protection, especially in relation to unpaid work.

The report, presented at the 10th session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean sets out active policies for overcoming the obstacles to equitable access to the labour market, especially those arising from the sexual division of labour which has become established through usage and the frequent discriminatory practices observed on the labour market.

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INDEX

Foreword - Introduction

Chapter I. Towards a horizon of parity in Latin America and The Caribbean: The Political Representation of Women

A. Women's human rights
B. The context of gender equality
C. Democracy or "the personal is political"
D. State and family: equality of form and real inequality
E. Equality and affirmative action
F. Citizenship
G. Parity as a democratic objective
H. The campaign for political representation in the region
I. Women in power
1. Once in parliament
2. From a symbolic presence to parity


Chapter II. Women's contribution to the economy and social protection, with reference to unpaid work

A. Caregiving, unpaid domestic work and gender equality
B. International instruments
C. Social reproduction work in the constitutional and legal environment of the region’s countries
D. Legal provisions governing paid domestic work
E. Extending the concept of work
F. Who are the women describing themselves as domestic workers, and what are they like? “doubly and domestic” or double-shift carers
G. The demand for care
H. The transnationalization of care: migrant domestic workers in a globalized world
I. Visibility and measurement in the national accounts
J. Time-use surveys and their potential policymaking input
K. Care needs and shared responsibilities. Can policies to “reconcile” work and family life provide an answer?


Chapter III.Towards a research and policy agenda

A. Parity in decision-making processes
1. Identification of new subjects for research
2. Policy or strategy objectives
3. Instruments to be developed

B. The impact of unpaid caregiving on social protection
1. The identification of new research issues
2. Objectives of the policy or strategy
3. Instruments to be developed


Appendix - Bibliography


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