Understanding Equality in Mexico: Women in Politics

Abstract

When studying gender–based practices, Mexican based research has analysed traditions and socially constructed roles of women as homemakers and children’s caregivers; placing emphasis on elements such as wage differentials, access to education and health clinics, and even the differences in participation among men and women. This study tackles the issue of gender inequality looking into social biases as well, but unlike other literature, it looks into the possible consequences socially constructed roles have on women’s political participation. This study employs data from the National Survey on Citizens and Political Culture and data from the Federal Electoral Institute. It also uses figures from the National Survey on Discrimination. The analysis shows that in the Mexican case, the political participation of women is restricted by a series of social factors that are embedded in an organization which structure intends to satisfy male oriented practices and to accommodate socially constructed gender roles. Based on interviews conducted, this study found patriarchal notions required women to be submissive, beautiful, domestic and dependent on men. Biased cultural values are still in place, limiting women’s acquisition of political capital and political power. Nevertheless, even in a male dominated space, women’s “intrusion†is disrupting long–standing traditions.
Keywords: Participation, Gender, Social roles, Mexico, Political capital