PreViMujer’s investigation exposes that victims lose $ 243 million in their businesses. In large and medium-sized companies the impact is $ 1.8 billion.
A survey of 3,856 women in Ecuador reveals that 5 out of 10 owners of micro-businesses have been raped at least once by their partner or ex-partner. What is most prevalent is the psychological (52.6%), followed by the physical (34.7%), the economic / patrimonial (20.8%) and the sexual (11.3%).
The research was prepared in 2020 and released in 2021 by the PreviMujer program, of the German organization GIZ, and the University of San Martín de Porres, of Peru. The analysis was led by the Peruvian professor Arístides Vara.
According to the report, the owners of microenterprises are more attacked than women in the general population. Although in the long term economic empowerment reduces abuse, in the first years violence and coercion are greater, because their partners feel threatened in their traditional roles and resist change.
Varas explains that three scenarios have been identified. For one thing, some women are not easily separated from their assailant; This happens when their partners do not give them a divorce easily or they need a loan and cannot get it because they require the husband’s signature.
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Another case is that it has been determined that ex-partners are more violent than current partners. They affect the enterprises of women, for example, destroying the premises’ facilities, the merchandise, they scare away customers and suppliers, they steal the capital of the business.
The third scenario is when the woman lives with the couple and the two are part of the business. In these circumstances, violence becomes more psychological and control, because lmen tend to assume roles of power and decision (managing finances, accounts, relationships with suppliers or payments), while they deal with sales, logistics.
When the woman wants to propose and implement her ideas in the company, disagreements arise that can end in aggressions. To this is added that when closing the business, on a day-to-day basis, women have to go home to cook, take care of their children and their husbands, which increases their physical and emotional burden, describes Varas.
All of the above, the investigation details, translates into millionaire economic losses that go beyond an impact on sales. According to the research, it is estimated that each year the formal and informal micro-enterprises of women lose $ 243 million due to violence, indicates the study.
The amount covers income that was lost when victims have to allocate a part of their savings to receive medical or legal attention, to replace merchandise or to assume loans. The resources lost because they had to permanently close their businesses are also included.
In Ecuador, 7 out of 10 women have suffered abuse, generating a approximate economic impact of $ 4,608 million, which is equal to 4.28% of GDP in 2019, determined PreviMujer.
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By the way that today, November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Sara Yánez, president of the National Network for the Support of Ecuadorian Women (Rename), argues that it is necessary to insist on the fight for equal conditions for all.
La Rename offers training to women who want to undertake, the training begins by working on self-esteem and knowing how to identify the types of violence, since some consider only physical or sexual abuse to be violence. Others do not feel capable enough to obtain money without depending on their husbands.
Of the stories that Yánez has learned, there are difficult cases of women who have suffered more abuse during the pandemic or who their partners became more violent when they decided to start something of their own that generates income.
“There is a moment when the woman decides to continue with the enterprise or to leave it, because she feels confusion, due to the psychological or physical abuse she receives. The worst thing is that this situation can end in a feminicide or suicide. Sometimes, the children, out of ignorance, agree with the father and judge the mother as if he was not fulfilling his obligations ”, he reflects.
Outside the family circle female entrepreneurs face other types of barriers and discrimination when offering their products or services in the market, especially when it comes to technical issues that have generally been executed by men.
A woman who provides plumbing services or a construction professional, for example, are sometimes not hired because their capabilities are underestimated, says Yánez. However, he points out that this situation is changing, little by little, although there are still social lags to change.
Millionaire losses for large and medium-sized companies
PreviMujer also measured the economic impact of violence against women on the productivity of large and medium-sized companies in the country. The result is that companies lose $ 1.8 billion a year for this reason, which is equivalent to 1.65% of GDP.
In this case, they correspond to work absenteeism and arrears, to presenteeism -it is to be present at the job, but to do other tasks or to dedicate oneself to personal matters-. Furthermore, it is estimated that, on average, each worker attacked loses 10.5 working days per year, for not showing up for work and for unproductive hours.
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Pablo Zambrano, Executive President of the Chamber of Industries and Production (CIP), points out that a woman who lives in an environment of violence does not have the same capacity to produce.
Beyond costs, this is a social issue, in which men should have a responsibility within companies and organizations to create a safe environment, free from harassment and violence. This will also help increase the levels of hiring of women, says Zambrano.
In order to recognize the progress of companies – large, medium or small – in eradicating abuse, the Chamber of Industries and Production will deliver a seal of ‘Safe Company’.
The initiative was presented on November 25 and is promoted by the CIP, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Production, and the National Public Procurement Service, with the technical assistance of the German Cooperation implemented by the GIZ, through the Program PreViWoman.
Zambrano explains that the organizations that apply the seal must implement specific policies and regulations that guarantee the safety of women. For this purpose, the companies will receive training and qualification for one year. (I)
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