The Chilean People 61in 2005. A much closer look, however, reveals that in spite
of the significant advances women have made, many are
content, or required to continue to play traditional roles.
Women in the Workforce
While women have about the same level of education as
men, they they make up only about 35 per cent of the
workforce. Chile lags behind most other Latin American
countries, where up to 55 per cent of the workforce is
comprised of women. This is not to say that many Chilean
women are unemployed. Many work in the informal sector
as street vendors, maids, fruit-pickers, etc. A large number
of these women are heads of households and must bring in
an income. Many middle-class Chilenas have a little business
on the side, selling purses, shoes, perfumes, you name it, to
friends, family and acquaintances. Chilean women are also
underrepresented in politics, in spite of the fact that a woman
was elected president. President Bachelet made it a point to
name women to half of the cabinet positions, but gains still
need to be made in Congress and local governments.