A recent survey about gender gaps In the labor and financial sphere, it revealed a surprising fact: more than half of the respondents in Argentina do not agree with the female quotas in the companies. The report, called “Let’s talk about silver”, was made by the professionals of people for the firm of Cosmetic Avon and analyzed the perception of more than 2,300 people between 25 and 55 years in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
“More than half of respondents do not believe that Labor quotas for women They must be mandatory. And at the local level, the data is equally disturbing: 5 out of 10 Argentines does not believe that guaranteeing a floor of women collaborators should be mandatory for companies, and, in turn, that people must be hired only by merit and capacities“, says Lucila Ferrari, Human Resources Manager of Natura and Avon in Argentina.
The idea of merit As the only work selection criterion seems logical, but what happens when the figures do not accompany? In Argentina, Only 29% of management positions are occupied by womena figure three points below the international average, according to reports from the Grant Thornton network. “We are far from the 50/50 ideal, that is, the organizations are reflected from the society of which we are part,” adds Ferrari.
And he wonders: “Why does this situation happen? How can we change this reality if we do not have concrete initiatives WHAT DO YOU REVIEW? If we are consistent with the idea of ’merit’, then … are women not prepared enough to occupy a Management position? Couldn’t they face challenges with the same effectiveness as men? “
In this sense, he argues that The female quotas allow to discover talents that for years were relegated by the social role of women. “To create the leaders of tomorrow, it is key to dismantle the Organizational cultures that do not encourage their growth and the imaginary that build this inequality“
There are no news in the famous Crystal roof which looks like unbreakable steel. “It is that invisible but omnipresent enemy. There he is, smiling from above while explaining, with a lot of condescension, why we are not ready for promotion. Because of course, Ask for an increase is almost an act of rebellion When the system has already decided who deserves to win more (spoiler: we are not us), “Analía Tarasiewicz, psychologist and work coach, director of work better.
‘The female quotas allow to discover talents relegated by social roles’
And clarify that A specific solution could be that women recognize their market value and learn to negotiate “In a world still of testosterone.”
The long road of quotas in Argentina and a dead end
Argentina was a pioneer in this type of initiatives and started in politics. The Female quota law It was sanctioned on November 6, 1991 and established that at least 30% of candidate lists in national elections should be occupied by women. It was the first law in the world to establish a positive action measure to reverse gender inequalities.
The impact was blunt: in the Chamber of Deputies, the female representation went from 24.9% in 1995 to 36.2% in 2005. In the Senate, it grew from 2.8% to 33.3% in just six years. However, 30% worked more as a roof than like a floor, and in some cases the lists to reduce female participation were manipulated.
In 2017, this law was replaced by the Law No. 27.412 of gender parity in areas of political representation, which requires a Strict 50% parity In the lists for the National Congress and the Mercosur Parliament, with gender alternation in the names from the first to the last place.
During the government of Alberto Fernández, General Resolution 34/2020 of the General Inspection of Justice (IGJ) also established gender parity in the directories of certain legal persons. This measure was considered an advance similar to the political and trade union quota. However, in April 2024, the government of Javier Milei repealed that regulation through General Resolution 13/2024, eliminating the obligation to include a minimum female quota in the administration bodies of civil associations and corporations.
Economic autonomy, key to equity?: 60% say no
Another striking fact of the study, prepared by Adrián Kohan and the sociologist Violeta Bendersky, is that 6 out of 10 women in Argentina do not consider that economic independence is key to achieving gender equity. Although 41% of the respondents do consider it essential, the remaining 62% do not see it as an indispensable condition, which reveals a tension between perception and reality.
“Financial autonomy is like Monday’s diet: We all know that it is important, but not everyone practices it. Is it that we have resigned ourselves to depend? “
‘Ask for an increase is almost an act of rebellion when it is determined who deserves to win more’
“We can talk about Empowerment until tiredness, but if we continue to depend economically on organizations that are not aligned to our development or do not encourage ourselves to undertakewe can move the board. “
Tarasiewicz insists that Being autonomous is not only a means for personal growth, but also a self -realization tool. “It is necessary to question the structures that keep us tied to jobs in which fear and lack of financial education paralyze us. We must encourage us to see the salary Not as a favor, but like remuneration legitimate for our work. “
Care, another persistent barrier
Finally, the report also confirms an already known structural barrier: 59% of women identify that family responsibilities, such as child care, hinder them development and Professional advance.
“The problem is not motherhood, but the lack of co -responsibility“says Tarasiewicz.
Mariela Navazo, a graduate in commercialization and director of MKT Activa, agrees: “It is not about choosing between being mother or be professional. It is about creating work and cultural environments that allow both facets to coexist without guilt or resignations. The problem is not in women or their choices, it is in a social model that continues to carry on their shoulders the main responsibility of the Family care“
In spite of everything, not everything in the report are negative data. “While some data caught our attention, in general we are also seeing encouraging advances, especially in Education and health“, concludes Mercedes Vázquez, reputation manager and corporate communication of Avon and Natura Argentina.
Although they generate controversy, female quotas, Despite the laws, companies remain a fundamental tool to reduce the gender gaps. Because inequalities are not corrected alone: they require political will, brave decisions and structures that always reward them.
