The Black Female Population and Its Constant Search for Opportunities
Mothers, poor and black women are constantly fighting for their rights and eradicating the gaps and inequalities that come with being black alone.
The Woman Post | María Carolina Rivero
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A recent study called "Women and Men: Gender Gaps in Colombia," published by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), together with the Presidential Council for Women's Equality (CPEM), reveals that black women mothers enter the labor market with many disadvantages, including greater unemployment, segregation, and informality. The data collected in the report shows the serious consequences faced by black women, such as gender pay gaps, discrimination, and barriers to equality.
Some experts believe that the participation of black women mothers in spaces, initiatives, and programs with affirmative action generates incredible societal transformations. The analysis and experts consider that in Colombia, the participation rate of the female gender increased 6.7 points, that is, from 46.4% to 53.1%. However, the disadvantages do not cease even though there is greater participation.
Black women continue to be structurally constrained by heavy family burdens and domestic work. However, the important thing is to close the inequality gaps between women and men to reduce the impact caused by poverty. On the other hand, the McKinsey Global Institute study estimates that if gender gaps in the economy and productivity are closed, $28 million will be added to the global GDP by 2025.
Motherhood and Job Growth for Black Women
For black women mothers, the sustainability of economic development depends only on the flexibility and opportunities afforded to motherhood. However, social behavior concerning the number of children generates tension between motherhood and paid work. These actions create limitations in job opportunities and are not distributed equally between men and women.
In Colombia, 19% of employed women work less than 20 hours a week, 23% between 20 and 40 hours, and 33% work more than 48 hours a week. Women work 36.9 hours, and men work 45.3 hours or 8.4 hours more than women. This difference is due to the limited room for maneuver to add more hours of paid work.
Also read: EMPLOYMENT PLATFORMS THAT OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
Black Women Mothers in Networks Promote Equality Rights
In this regard, black women mothers need to recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid domestic and care work. In addition, progress could be implemented in other vital aspects to strengthen their progress; among them are the access and use of technologies and the reduction of stereotypes in STEM careers.
On the other hand, it is essential to sensitize societies to the economic value of the work carried out by black women mothers in any sector. This action warns of a requirement to reduce and redistribute domestic work with monitoring and evaluation strategies.
In short, all these figures are a wake-up call to implement comprehensive policy designs that address all cases and thus be able to break circles of submission, subordination, and violence. That is why violence against black women and girls is the ultimate expression of inequality and discrimination.
