The Role of Women in Latin America: Professional Women and Women in the Favelas Presented by Andrew Macias and Elise Olsen

Traditional View of Women or the Catholic Church View of Women The Status of women in the past was dependent on how well they took care of their homes and their families. The status of girls is dependent of them staying at home and remaining virgins until they get married. Ideal characteristics included purity and passivity. These views have changed a little as time has gone on, but the Catholic Church still has a more conservative view of the woman’s role in society.

Women in the Favelas The environment in the Favelas leads to a difficult life for all the people who life in them, but especially women. Violence Drugs Poor Education Dysfunctional Families

Women in Favelas: The Social Aspect Girls become women when they have their first sexual experience. This is happening at younger ages. Girls strive to become pregnant Motherhood and Financial Stability Women are more likely to cohabit than they are to marry This trend is not approved by the catholic church.

Women in Favelas: The Economic Aspect Women usually find jobs as maids or laundresses. Sometimes they are the only members of the family who have jobs. When these women are the main sources of income there are several problems that can arise. Childcare and Relationships

Professional Urban Women Government gender equality laws Political quota systems Continued struggle for equality has produced some great advances Legal equality Business Leaders of Nations Role of Protestantism? Greater roles for women in their church More autonomy within the family when compared to Catholics Opportunity for life outside of traditional family

Women in Business Liliana Aufiero Grace D. Lieblein President of Lupo Clothing company Turned company around Named one of Brazil’s ten most influential executives in her industry President of GM Brazil Is the highest ranking executive in Latin America Previously ran GM’s operations in Mexico Ranked 22nd on Fortune’s top 50 international female executives

Women in Politics Susana Villaran Ana Olivera First elected Female Mayor of Lima, Peru Took office Jan 1, 2011 Won in a narrow victory by less than 1% Her opposition was also a woman First female mayor of Montevideo, Uruguay Is actually a communist Received over 50% of the vote Runs a city of over 1.2 million people Accounts for over half of Uruguay's GDP

Questions: What are some of the similarities and differences between professional women and the women in Favelas? What are some of the factors that have made life so difficult for women in the Favela? In your opinion has religion had an effect in shaping the roles of women in and out of the household?