Gender inequality and development in Latin America

María Magdalena Camou and Silvana Maubrigades

Chapter 8 in The Elgar Companion to the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025, pp 203-221 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The article examines persistent gender inequalities in Latin America's labor market, focusing on women's integration into wage labor from the 20th to the early 21st century. Despite significant increases in female workforce participation, especially in the service sector, gender disparities remain widespread. The article explores the relationship between economic development models and gender inequality, highlighting how structural changes like industrialization and the expansion of services have impacted women's labor force participation and the gender wage gap. The analysis reveals diverse trajectories of female labor participation across different countries, with more developed nations like Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay seeing earlier and more extensive female labor market integration. However, economic growth alone does not ensure gender equality in the labor market. A notable issue is occupational segregation, where women are overrepresented in low-paying service jobs and underrepresented in higher-paying industries and leadership roles. While the gender wage gap has narrowed, significant disparities persist, particularly in countries with lower female labor force participation. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the factors driving these inequalities to achieve more equitable labor market outcomes for women in the region.

Keywords: Gender Inequality; Labor Market; Latina America; Economic Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317196
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