THE WORLD BANK AND GENDER IN THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION

In development terms, gender refers to socially learned behaviors and expectations that are associated with the male and female sexes. Beyond biological differences, gender roles explain the different cultural and social processes that males and females experience, including constraints, limitations, preferences and opportunities.

Gender roles permeate all aspects of development policy. Men's and women's demands, preferences and access to services differ greatly. As such, these gender roles need to be taken into account if poverty-reduction policies are to be effective in providing both men and women - particularly the poor - with the services they need.

Gender equality broadens the entitlements, choices, rights and capabilities exercised by men and women. Greater gender equality is paramount to increased human capital, economic productivity and growth, which in turn, are essential for poverty reduction. The importance of gender equality in development is underscored in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, where reducing gender disparity in the labor market and achieving equal participation with men in power and decision-makingis one of the eight millennium development goals endorsed by 189 member states.

Taking into account gender roles is essential in the design and delivery of better programs and services. To this end, development projects must consider whether men's and women's demands, preferences and access to services differ, and if so, ensure that services adequately address these issues. 

GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries have made significant progress over the past 20 years in promoting gender equality. Many countries have successfully diminished gaps in education attainment between males and females, and there have been modest improvements in maternal mortality rates, wage differences, and access to land.

Nevertheless, gender inequalities remain an obstacle to the full development of countries in the LAC region. Such inequality comes at a price, resulting from the unrealized potential of women's full integration in the economy, the social and economic cost of violence against women, and the loss in human capital from maternal mortality and pregnant girls who must leave school prematurely. Key gender issues in the Latin America and Caribbean region include:

Maternal mortality, which remains the most important health-related problem that LAC women experience. In some countries, high maternal mortality is related to the lack of prenatal services; in others, the coexistence of high maternal mortality rates and widespread access to maternal health services suggest serious health care quality issues.

HIV/AIDS, which is related to male and female sexual behavior and relations. These, in turn, are affected by prevailing gender roles and expectations. For example, in many Caribbean countries, men are expected to have multiple sexual partners, engage in casual sex and solicit commercial sex. Moreover, rigid codes of male bravado mean that men resist using condoms while unequal power relations between men and women and make it difficult for women to negotiate condom use during a sexual encounter.

Violent crime, which is concentrated among young males, who are frequently both victims and perpetrators. Aggressive male behavior has been linked to socialization patterns that teach boys to be "tough", as well as to association with delinquent peers, and to lack of economic opportunity. Women are also frequently victimized by violence—most commonly by family violence, which affects a significant percentage of women in the region.

Educational attainment. Studies have shown that the male "breadwinner" role means that poor boys are more likely to drop-out of school to provide financial support to their families. Poor girls' school attendance is also based on their gender roles: those who drop-out usually do so due to early pregnancy, to take care of siblings or to perform other domestic duties.

Labor participation and earnings. Despite attaining higher levels of education, women have lower labor force participation rates and earn less than men in the labor market; they also have higher unemployment rates. This inequity has been linked to gender roles. For example, employers are often reluctant to hire women in their childbearing years. The male-female wage gap in the region, while declining over time, remains significant.

Life expectancy, which is also linked to gender roles in that biological reasons only explain 30-45 percent of the longevity gap between women and men. The residual gap is related to male behavior – i.e. violence, alcoholism and risky behavior – which, in turn, is linked to male gender roles and socialization patterns.

WORLD BANK SUPPORT TO GENDER ISSUES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

To promote gender equality in the region, the Bank provides analysis, technical assistance, and finances projects that boost opportunities and equal rights for men and women.

Paramount to the World Bank's work in gender is understanding the different impacts and opportunities that a particular project or policy may have on both men and women. For these reasons, the Bank works on mainstreaming gender issues into projects and analytical work. That is, rather than adding a "women's component" or "gender equity component", the Bank performs a gender analysis and modifies existing activities and dynamics where appropriate. However, this does not rule out funding specific projects that target disadvantaged groups, both male and female.

The Bank has produced numerous reports on gender-related issues in the region that aim to help policy makers understand how gender roles affect development and recommend appropriate responses. Recent reports include Challenges and opportunities for gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean, The Economics of Gender in Mexico, and Gender Dimensions of Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-related problems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY

Launched in 2001in the context of Mexico's strategy for poverty reduction and social sustainability, the Mexico Gender Equity Project – "Generosidad" – is helping to build public capacity, support community-based approaches to gender, improve women's access to income-generation programs, and increase gender awareness. The project, which will run until December 2005, aims to address the consequences of gender roles on both sexes and to consider the linkages between the genders rather than focusing solely on women. It is financed through a $3.03 million Learning and Innovation Loan (LIL).

Gender components have also been integrated in many operations of the Bank, such as the Honduras Rural Land Management Project (.pdf), the Caracas Slum Upgrading Project (.pdf), the Rural Roads of Peru Project (.pdf), and many others.

For more information on World Bank projects with a gender component in Latin America and the Caribbean, please click on "Projects & Programs."