Feminism Does Represent You: From Achievements to Challenges, the Fight Continues

Feminism, with its rich history of over a century, has been fundamental in promoting equal rights for women and gender minorities, from the brave suffragettes to the resounding #MeToo movement. However, despite its clear objectives of equality, feminism has been misunderstood and, in many cases, rejected, erroneously labeled as promoting "hatred towards men." In a world where equality is an ideal proclaimed by many, feminism, curiously, is often avoided or misconstrued by a broad audience.

This article aims to demonstrate how, regardless of personal identification with feminism, our lives are unequivocally the result of the tireless feminist struggles throughout history. Although modern initiatives for female empowerment have achieved significant advancements, we still face notable challenges in the fight against underlying patriarchal structures. Resistance to feminism, especially in the digital age, reflects a lack of understanding of its true essence and objectives.

By looking back at the historical achievements of feminism and examining the current state of rights and gender equality, this article seeks to shed light on how feminism has shaped a fairer and more equitable world for everyone, highlighting the importance of continuing this fight towards an even more inclusive and representative future.

Voting Rights and Political Participation

The battle for women's suffrage is one of the most emblematic achievements of the feminist movement. In the early 20th century, activists such as Susan B. Anthony in the United States and Emmeline Pankhurst in the United Kingdom led campaigns that resulted in the acquisition of women's suffrage (1920 in the U.S. with the 19th Amendment and 1918/1928 in the UK). These victories were crucial not only for women's political representation but also for their ability to influence public and economic policies. In Latin America, women's suffrage was achieved progressively, with Argentina granting it in 1947, Mexico in 1953, and Brazil in 1932, marking the start of a more active political participation of women in the region.

The path to women's enfranchisement has transformed the political and economic structure of societies around the world. Research has shown that women's voting and political representation can have profound implications for economic outcomes. The presence of women in national governments, influenced by political institutions such as electoral systems and gender quotas, varies according to a country's level of socioeconomic development but consistently suggests that the inclusion of women leads to a more inclusive and equitable socioeconomic development (Rosén, 2013).

Furthermore, women's enfranchisement is associated with lower government budget deficits, indicating that women's participation in the electorate can lead to more prudent fiscal outcomes (Krogstrup & Waelti, 2011). Likewise, it has been observed that constituencies that elect women legislators experience higher growth in economic activity, suggesting that women in political office may contribute to improved economic performance (Baskaran et al., 2018). This phenomenon is complemented by the tendency of women to vote considering the broader economic interest rather than their personal economic situation, which could influence more inclusive and thoughtful economic policy decisions (Welch & Hibbing, 1992).

These collective findings underscore that women's voting rights and political representation have a positive impact on the economy, including potential reductions in government budget deficits, enhanced economic growth in regions represented by women, and a tendency for these women to vote with the broader economic interest in mind. Research suggests that the empowerment of women in the political sphere is not only a matter of social justice but also a potentially beneficial strategy for economic development and fiscal responsibility.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the presence of women in legislative bodies has gradually increased, reaching an average of 35.8% by November 2023. Additionally, the proportion of women ministers in the supreme court or supreme justice is at 30.4%, with figures varying significantly among the countries in the region. Participation in presidential cabinets and top municipal authority positions has also seen increases, although these advances are still below the desired parity. This progress reflects a gradual but firm shift towards greater inclusion of women in politics, underscoring the ongoing importance of feminist struggles for equitable representation and the economic and social benefits it entails.

The research and data presented highlight the relevance of feminism in promoting more inclusive and equitable political participation for women, demonstrating how past feminist struggles have shaped a present in which, although not everyone identifies with the movement, the lives of many are undoubtedly the product of these efforts. The evolution of female political representation is a testament to the transformative impact of feminism, not only in the political arena but in the very fabric of our economies and societies.

Access to Education

The history of female education is filled with inspiring figures such as Malala Yousafzai, who fought for the right of girls to education in Pakistan, surviving an attack in 2012 and winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. In the 19th century, pioneers like Mary Lyon founded the first institutions of higher education for women in the United States, such as Mount Holyoke College in 1837, laying the groundwork for universal access to education. In Latin America, female education has significantly advanced since the mid-20th century, with figures like Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean educator who was the first Latin American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945, highlighting the importance of education for female empowerment.

Access to education for women has been a key battleground in the fight for gender equality, spanning from historical campaigns for the right to education to contemporary efforts to close the gender gap in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Women's education is not only a globally recognized fundamental right but also an essential catalyst for economic and social progress.

Women's education is directly linked to enhanced autonomy, reduced fertility rates, and an elevated quality of life, evidenced by healthier populations and better-nourished children (Jayne & Jejeebhoy, 1996). Moreover, the educational empowerment of women significantly contributes to economic growth, increases labor market productivity, and offers extensive social benefits, including improved family health and political processes (Hill & King, 1995). Interestingly, the return on investment in education is higher for women than for men, helping to close the wage gap by mitigating discriminatory factors (Dougherty, 2005).

On the other hand, women's education level significantly influences the effectiveness of livelihood interventions, resulting in an increase in household wealth, better child nutrition, and overall growth (Miller et al., 2017). Globally, the impact of education on female employment varies, with higher education being crucial in countries with conservative gender norms (Bussemakers et al., 2017). Additionally, women's education affects fertility rates, showing a preference for smaller families and more effective use of modern contraceptive methods (Kim, 2023).

Education also positively correlates with women's entrepreneurship, suggesting that higher levels of education can help bridge the gap between male and female entrepreneurs (Razmi & Firoozabadi, 2016). However, despite these positive effects, better-educated women often find employment in the informal sector, indicating inefficiencies in how education is delivered to the poor (Nguyen, 2015). Education empowers women to challenge traditional roles, improve their social status, and actively participate in decision-making and economic development (Sood, 2017; Mutyalu, 2019).

Despite significant advances, considerable challenges remain. Even though in 2022, 76.6% of women between the ages of 20 and 24 completed secondary education in urban areas, compared to 69.9% of men (ECLAC), there are issues of segregation in the tertiary study areas of women. Although women in Latin America and the Caribbean represent 60% of tertiary education graduates, they only constitute 30% of the graduates in STEM fields (IDB, 2018). The reasons behind the low female participation in these science areas can be explained by the strong influence of gender roles and stereotypes about male and female careers. Indeed, some studies have shown that these biases and gender stereotypes are present from very early in girls' lives. Both female students and teachers show higher levels of math anxiety compared to their male counterparts, which is linked to lower performance in mathematics and greater acceptance of gender stereotypes suggesting that boys are better at math than girls (Hembree, 1990; Beilock et al., 2010; Hill et al., 2016; Szczygie?, 2020). In this way, it becomes clear that gender roles and predispositions about differences in the abilities of boys and girls could be affecting women in their education decisions later in their lives.

Essentially, women's education is a powerful tool for personal and social empowerment, generating a cascade of benefits that include increased economic productivity, reduced fertility, and more active participation in entrepreneurship and decision-making. It also plays a crucial role in improving health outcomes and fostering economic growth. Nonetheless, challenges such as the underutilization of educated women's skills in the informal sector underscore the need for ongoing efforts to maximize the benefits of education for women and the economy at large.

Labor Rights and Wage Equity

Feminism has also played a crucial role in the fight for labor rights and wage equity. The strike by textile workers in 1908 in New York, demanding better working conditions and fair wages, is a historical milestone. This event was a precursor to the establishment of International Women's Day. In recent decades, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 in the United States was an important step towards wage equity, although the fight continues. In Latin America, figures such as Rigoberta Menchú, a Guatemalan activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1992, have highlighted the importance of labor rights within the broader context of human rights and social justice for indigenous and working women.

The economic emancipation of women represents a multifaceted concept that encompasses economic, social, and political dimensions, being crucial for sustainable development and equality in contemporary society. The relationship between women's work and their empowerment has been extensively studied, highlighting how employment enhances women's autonomy in family contexts and contributes to their material, social, cultural prosperity, and psychological empowerment. This process involves active participation in family management and decision-making processes, linking economic independence with geographical and cultural mobility (Sultana et al., 2013; Ghosh, 2015).

Female employment emerges as a significant pathway to empowerment, demanding equitable access to assets, services, and employment opportunities, as well as recognition of unpaid work. This approach suggests that work can be a means to empowerment (Angoro, 2020), highlighting the reciprocal relationship between work and empowerment as essential for economic development (Bhoganadam, 2014).

Despite the importance of employment for women's empowerment, significant barriers exist. The female unemployment rate in Latin America in 2022 was 8.7%, higher than that of men, which was 5.9%. This disparity reflects the gender gaps in well-being, exacerbated by the unequal distribution of unpaid work in households. Women spend more time than men on these tasks, limiting their participation on equal terms in the labor market and restricting their access to economic resources for greater autonomy (ECLAC).

Additionally, although female labor participation has increased, a quarter of women in Latin America still do not receive their own income, compared to a tenth of men, underscoring an economic dependency that makes them vulnerable and dependent on male income. This aspect highlights the need for policies that promote greater economic independence for women (ECLAC).

The gender wage gap remains a persistent problem, with women earning on average 30% less than men with similar skills. This is partly due to the lack of access to employment in the formal sector and the overrepresentation of women in the informal economy, where working conditions are often less favorable (Panizza, 2000; Bando, 2019; ECLAC). Other authors found that in 14 of the 18 countries studied in Latin America and the Caribbean, women should earn higher income than men, especially due to a higher level of education and the fact that they are engaged in activities with a higher economic return. However, as already indicated, in the vast majority of countries, the hourly labor income of men is higher than that of women (Urquidi & Chalup, 2023).

The research synthesizes that employment is a significant factor in enhancing women's empowerment, highlighting how work contributes to women's material, social, and cultural progress, as well as their psychological empowerment. However, this empowerment is also influenced by other factors, such as education, media exposure, and household wealth, making the relationship between work and women's empowerment a complex and multifaceted process. Equity in access to employment opportunities and recognition of unpaid work are essential to maximize the benefits of female empowerment in the economy and society at large.

The journey through the sections on voting rights and political participation, access to education, and labor rights and wage equity makes clear the transformative role that the feminist movement has played in improving the lives of women throughout history. Clearly, these are just a few examples from a much more extensive list of areas where feminists have allowed us to live as we do today. Thanks to the relentless struggles and tireless efforts of feminists, today, a woman can vote, actively participate in politics, attend school and university, work, and enjoy economic independence. These are not mere milestones; they are fundamental rights that have been won through perseverance and feminist activism.

It is true that, like any ideology, feminism has been practiced imperfectly at times and has not been without criticism, both internal and external. Some have focused on the imperfections or the actions of more radical minorities within the movement, choosing to highlight these discrepancies instead of recognizing the vast achievements obtained. However, it is crucial to remember and value the significant and positive impact that feminism has had and continues to have on the lives of women and girls around the world.

This focus on imperfections hides the reality that, without feminism, many of the freedoms and rights we take for granted today would not exist. A woman's ability to vote, receive education, have a voice in politics, access fair employment opportunities, and control her economic life are direct achievements of feminist struggles. These victories have not only benefited present generations but will continue to positively impact the lives of our daughters and granddaughters.

Therefore, as we reflect on the path traveled and the challenges we still face, it is important to maintain a balanced and appreciative perspective of feminism. Recognizing its achievements does not mean ignoring its challenges or denying the need for growth and evolution within the movement. Rather, it is a reminder that, despite its imperfections, feminism has been and continues to be a crucial force for positive change, equity, and justice in our societies. The history and achievements of the feminist movement should be a source of pride and a call to continue the fight for full and effective equality for all people, regardless of their gender.

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