Argentina has a history of female leaders, as well as internationally recognized images that symbolize the heavy participation of women in the political, social, and domestic fields. These range from the beloved Eva Perón, the most remembered and influential Argentine first lady, to the more recent Madres de Plaza de Mayo – a weekly reunion of hundreds of mothers who protest against the unaccountable disappearances and murders of their children during the "Dirty War." However, despite their inclusion in politics and business, Argentinean women are still shadowed by the historically traditional, Catholic influence, and "machismo" culture. In Argentina, the oppression of women is most apparent in the lack of access to women's reproductive rights and health care. These basic needs have yet to receive the level of funding and exposure required to be effective.

However, gender equity initiatives are achieving noticeable success in certain areas. The following statistics demonstrate the amazing progress women are making towards equity in Argentina:

• Women in the workplace earn 98 percent of what men do in Argentina, while Nicaraguan women earn 64 percent, and Brazilians and Chileans earn just 77 percent of that of men.
• Illiteracy rates of Argentine men is 3.1 percent, while women illiteracy rates is almost equal at 3.2 percent.
• The percentage of female representation in the Argentine National Legislature has grown from 4.3 percent in 1983, 5.9 percent in 1992, 14 percent in 1993, and 33.7 percent in 2005.
• Argentina was the first Latin American country to adopt a quota law for women's participation in Congress.
• The country is ranked 15th in the world for female participation in national legislation.

The statistics paint a picture of positive growth; however, this does not negate the fact that women are denied certain basic rights—particularly in lesser educated, underserved communities. Abortion is still a criminal offense, sex education is completely absent in the education system, and access to female contraceptives is negligible. Although this is a huge problem that has historically been perpetuated by the government and reinforced by cultural taboos, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Despite protest from Catholic groups and a long history of anti-abortion and abstinence-only promotion, a new discourse on sex education is forming. In 2004, female judge nominee Carmen Argibay publicly announced her commitment to decriminalize abortion, further mobilizing the topic of sex in the public eye. She was subsequently confirmed by President Néstor Kirchner.

Policymaking related to sex is marching forward in a positive direction. Schools are beginning to provide sex education that includes topics outside the realm of abstinence-only themes, women are gaining access to contraceptives, and abortions are being allowed in cases that are ruled legal by a district judge. However, these policies are unfortunately more words than actual practice of the country. Abortion still remains highly illegal, schools report that they have yet to implement sex education lessons, and women continue to report extreme difficulty accessing reproductive health resources of any kind. Despite the disregard for these new policies, it is still a step in the right direction. With the growing rate of female representation in legislation, it seems inevitable that these policies will become enforceable and will continue to develop in the near future.

The rise of social movements resulting from the people's protest against the harsh conditions of the 2001 economic crisis and the "Dirty War" contributed to the rise of solidarity between women. With the disappearances of thousands of men, women stepped up in response and defended their families. Similarly, the loss of income due to the 2001 crisis required both men and women to contribute to the family income. Both these factors motivated women to take leadership roles in many of the grassroots movements igniting throughout the country. FSD seeks to promote this coalition and solidarity movement of women by giving these groups the resources and skills they need to grow exponentially. Most women's groups need capacity-building activities, organization assistance, technical assistance, aid in promotion and marketing, and encouragement through solidarity with international women's support mechanisms.

Read more about Gender Equity programs and opportunities initiated by our Community Partners in Argentina.

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