Job offers for women in Bolivia improve

Dec. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- Job offers for women in Bolivia improve
A study conducted by the Bolivian research company Capture Consulting, shows that a majority of women in Bolivia today have much confidence in themselves, professionally and at work, although when seeking work, they consider that society still has traces of male chauvinism and sexist discrimination.

More than two thirds of women feel that they have the same opportunities in Bolivia as men do. In addition, they feel that they are better prepared and more capable than before, and that discrimination in Bolivia is gradually fading away and jobs of equal opportunity are appearing, therefore job options tend to be the same for everyone.

Only a minority of women believe they do not have the same opportunities as men, citing that in Bolivian sexism still exists and women are excluded because they are considered weaker, less prepared, and less reliable.

The problem with the resume and work experience

According to the study, nearly half of women in Bolivia, i.e., 46%, believes that the studies reflected in a strong résumé is the most important requirement for employment. However, the rest considered that some physical features and personality are essential; approx. 26% cite that values and principles are most important, 17% cite good attitude, and 10% which assures that a primary requirement is to be beautiful.

This last figure increases even more if we consult the male population, whom 76% of the time says that physical appearance is crucial to women when it comes to finding work. In Santa Cruz the percentage is higher, where it reaches 80%.

According to new findings released by the World Bank in September 2011, raising a family and childcare, among other factors, lead Bolivian women to be part of an informal workforce or work from home. According to the report, less than half of women around the world are part of the formal market, the remaining belonging to informal labor.

And while modern-day women in Bolivia are concerned about generating income, the care, upbringing, and education of their children, continues to cause difficulties in terms of the struggle for gender equality.

Between job opportunities and the couple

Men point out many positive attributes in Bolivian women, by acknowledging they are beautiful, honest, good housewives, loving, and the one that stands out the most, which is that of a hard worker. The results indicate that almost 100% of men believe that women should have the same opportunities as men to study, grow and excel professionally, and claim that today the number of opportunities are more than ten years ago, hence they consider that their contributions are relevant in senior positions.

Contrary to what women think, men (56%) believe that women do not have an occupational disadvantage and those who believe they do have a disadvantage (42%), attribute it to sexism and discrimination, lack of physical strength, lack of preparation, and the responsibility of being a mother as the primary reasons. However, 51% of men feel pride and satisfaction when the wife earns more than them and only 25% feel embarrassed and diminished; this sentiment is stronger among the population of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. In addition, they believe that women can be both a good mother and a good professional in any profession of their choosing, including medicine and law, professions that in the past were only intended for them.

While most believe that both men and women are entrepreneurs, 23% considered women the most enterprising and independent over men to do business, although one quarter of the Bolivian population attributed the responsibility for generating revenue to men, while 95% of the male population admits that greater equality would help build a better future for the country and in order to accomplish that, education, sexism and gender equity are the main aspects that need to be changed or improved.

Work from home or own business?

Although women believe they have the same job opportunities as men and they would also rather work than staying at home, women consider themselves undervalued when it comes to their resume, especially for younger and middle-income women.

Therefore, although Bolivian women prefer to be working instead of staying at home, they still feel that they are undervalued which it makes it difficult for them to penetrate the job market. This is why the majority, i.e. 60% of them, see that owning a business as an opportunity to skip work "discrimination". Only 34% prefer to find jobs in established companies and 5% decide to work from home making crafts and food.

Original article written by the team of the best job board in Bolivia http://www.trabajopolis.bo/blog/

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