In Latin America and the Caribbean over 50% of users of public transportation systems are women. However, not all of our systems are designed with the needs and perspectives of women in mind. Let’s start with the challenges that women have as users: A woman gets on a bus to go to work, to run errands, or to accompany someone in her care, but often does not benefit from appropriate fares, routes and schedules. As a result of multiple transfers and/or little or no integration of transport systems, women often end up paying more, wasting time and limiting their physical and labor mobility compared to men. And even when the bus is clean and on time, women are also concerned about their safety, and having street lighting, pedestrian crossings, surveillance systems and respect for their space against theft and harassment. Besides being bus users, women in Latin America and the Caribbean should be able to be the drivers, engineers and managers of our transportation systems and to increase their share in this segment of non-traditional activities. Instead, although women are part of the sector and are qualified, they frequently find themselves in positions related to signposting and cleaning, where the vast majority of time the wages are three times lower than other transportation system jobs. Even more worrying it is that the participation of women in the construction and operation of transport systems does not exceed 15% of the total labor in the sector, even though they represent 50% of the labor force in the region. In the last 10 years, this reality has hardly changed. Given current trends, it will take over a century until women in Latin American and can participate equally with men in the transportation. Our goal is to create safe transport environments with equal opportunities of employment and use for both women and men, ultimately resulting in a better transportation system for all users. Let’s pave the way for greater gender equality!

The Relationship Between Gender and Transport

Resource Key: LESPISVV

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Author:

  • Isabel Granada
  • Anne-Marie Urban
  • Andrea Monje
  • Paola Ortiz
  • Daniel Pérez
  • Laureen Montes
  • Alejandra Caldo

Creators Name: {mb_resource_zotero_creatorsname}

Place:

Institution: IDB

Date: 2016

Language:

In Latin America and the Caribbean over 50% of users of public transportation systems are women. However, not all of our systems are designed with the needs and perspectives of women in mind. Let’s start with the challenges that women have as users: A woman gets on a bus to go to work, to run errands, or to accompany someone in her care, but often does not benefit from appropriate fares, routes and schedules. As a result of multiple transfers and/or little or no integration of transport systems, women often end up paying more, wasting time and limiting their physical and labor mobility compared to men. And even when the bus is clean and on time, women are also concerned about their safety, and having street lighting, pedestrian crossings, surveillance systems and respect for their space against theft and harassment. Besides being bus users, women in Latin America and the Caribbean should be able to be the drivers, engineers and managers of our transportation systems and to increase their share in this segment of non-traditional activities. Instead, although women are part of the sector and are qualified, they frequently find themselves in positions related to signposting and cleaning, where the vast majority of time the wages are three times lower than other transportation system jobs. Even more worrying it is that the participation of women in the construction and operation of transport systems does not exceed 15% of the total labor in the sector, even though they represent 50% of the labor force in the region. In the last 10 years, this reality has hardly changed. Given current trends, it will take over a century until women in Latin American and can participate equally with men in the transportation. Our goal is to create safe transport environments with equal opportunities of employment and use for both women and men, ultimately resulting in a better transportation system for all users. Let’s pave the way for greater gender equality!

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