The next March 8 The will be commemorated Women’s Daya date that pays tribute to women around the world, including those who work and contribute to the development of society. Over the years, Peru has witnessed important advances in the fight against gender stereotypes through various professional careers. However, economic equity is still a challenge.
According to him National Statistics and Informatics Institute (INEI), Peruvian women face a salary gap of 27.8 %. This inequality is driven by structural factors that limit female economic potential in the country. This is warned of various employability and gender specialists, who analyze women’s work options and the difficulties they face.
Races with greater female presence: a panorama in transformation
Women have managed to consolidate in key areas of the labor market. Ana Cristina Alva Hernández, Director of Labor Opportunities and Monitoring the Graduate of the Autonomous University of Peruemphasizes the report ‘Educational Indicators 2013-2023’ of INEI. According to this list, Education leads the list of careers most demanded by women, with a 16.1% female participation. It is followed by business administration (14.0%), psychology (11.5%) and economic and social sciences (10.7%).
It also highlights the progress in sectors historically dominated by men. In the last decade, female participation in engineering, industry and construction went from 3.3% in 2013 to 10.4% in 2023, reflecting the impact of inclusion programs, specialized scholarships and a greater representation of women in Stem roles (‘Science, technology, engineering and mathematics’ by its acronym in English).
Marisol Fernández, director of the Gender Master of the PUCPhe mentioned that science and technology careers are still mostly male, but the female presence is growing. “According to SUENEDU statistics, only 29.2% of the students of these careers correspond to women. Although the gap is great, that percentage is an advance in our country because it reflects that efforts to overcome gender stereotypes have been performing some fruits. ”He points out.
The persistent salary gap and the structural challenge
Despite the advances in education and labor participation, the Salary inequality It still affects women at all levels. According to him INEIthe average monthly income of women is S/1,246.90, equivalent to 27.8% less than men, who receive S/1,726.60 on average. In addition, the Gender gap report De la ILO indicates that, even considering factors such as education and experience, the difference is still 17.5% for the same work.
This situation worsens by factors related to the lack of formal work centers. “In sectors with high informality and work on your own, the gap is greater,” explains Alva Hernández. The specialist also points out that women have less access to management positions, to which is added the difficulty of reconciling working life with the domestic worka burden that continues to fall mostly on them.
Fernández, meanwhile, emphasizes the lack of a national care system as a key obstacle to gender equity. “The most privileged women often solve the problem with the hiring of household workers (…) and women with less resources are the ones who suffer the most the absence of a national care system, so they have to solve in their own way,” he says.
Solutions: Towards real equity in the labor market
The specialists agree that it is essential to break with the feminization and masculinization of racesa problem that, according to Fernández, must be addressed from the Basic Education. She points out that existing gender stereotypes, associated with that women should take care of care and men of being good economic suppliers. “From childhood the school must break the stereotypes and for this it is essential in gender approach in education,” he says.
At the business and academic level, universities and companies can promote female inclusion through mentoring programs, equitable access policies and scholarship opportunities. Alva Hernández highlights initiatives such as the participation of Peruvian students in the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain and the agreement with the Manuel J. Bustamante Foundation, which provides comprehensive scholarships to single mothers.
On the other hand, to close the salary gap, labor policies must focus on salary equity, informality reduction and the promotion of active paternity, Fernández concludes, so that greater equality is prioritized in access, development and remuneration within the Peruvian labor market.
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Source: Larepublica
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
