The fact is that women are still very underrepresented in politics and international business. In all areas, men outnumber women, which shows how gender equality has, until recently, been absent from the business agenda.
Gender issues must be part of the integral design of all current policies. Documents are already available to incorporate a gender perspective into trade policy that contributes to equality and human development in Latin America.
The analysis “Gender gap: the 'Tetris' of trade in Latin America”, prepared by Ana Inés Basco, from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), found data that illustrate the gap in equality for women in their multidimensional roles, as workers, producers and entrepreneurs, consumers, users of public services and those primarily responsible for unpaid care work:
- 52% of women participate in the market job, while men do so in 78%, according to ECLAC.
- The unemployment rate for Latin American women is 10%, but for men it is 7%, according to the World Bank.
- Men earn 20% more than women. And women are the ones who spend more hours of the day on unpaid work.
The author also explains the role of women as consumers. In this category, women spend more on food, health and education for their children than men. However, the impact of trade opening on women is determined by their consumption patterns and the sectors affected by tariff reductions..
When it comes to international business, the full participation of women as business leaders The trade process is hampered by structural and attitudinal barriers. At the regional level, the analysis highlights that when a company is owned by a woman, employees' wages are higher, more women are hired and they are more productive. But women do not benefit from trade as much as men do, because they face more regulatory constraints, fewer skills, less access to capital and spend more time on unpaid work.
The good news is that the E-commerce could help to close the gap. According to the IDB, five out of 10 exporting companies use it as a channel for their foreign sales. And of this total, 74% began using it in the midst of the pandemic. Thus, the analysis considers that cross-border e-commerce could be an opportunity to close the gap, but suggests making sure not to replicate inequalities.
Trade must play a central role in the recovery of the region's economies by allowing countries to unify their efforts in pursuit of growth and achieve recovery more quickly than acting alone. This is particularly important when the regional economic integration and increased international trade allow for high social support in Latin America. This is indicated by the IDB survey, which suggests increasing women's access to higher levels of education and reducing information costs related to trade.
If increasing diversity is a moral imperative, it is also becoming a powerful prerequisite for success. The analysis' data show that changes would help improve trade and public policies in general. And because important reforms and measurable and more equitable results are needed in the trade sphere, the time is right to understand trade as an opportunity to improve the living conditions of thousands of Latin Americans, highlights the main source of financing for the development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
