By Alejandra Massolo
The formidable role of women in local areas of poverty in Latin America poses serious risks and costs of physical, emotional and moral but not a profile of victims, but of a leading social force able to achieve better living conditions, family and community, helping to maintain local governance. Yet the views and attitudes of women was practically absent from the opinions, analysis and debates on decentralization when he went to the American scene. Hardly found in the literature on issue statements from women about the policy of decentralization and municipal reform. Even women of the urban poor who make up the multifaceted social movement of Latin American women, with its strong integration into local areas, did not perceive decentralization as a reform of the state that could benefit them. Even in mid 1990, noted in a study of grassroots organizations of people living in Santiago de Chile, that women do not find the notion of a decentralized state in which levels of government have their own spheres of power and decision; the "ideal" for them if they want to solve a problem is to arrive at La Moneda , The seat of presidential power (Weisntein, 1995).
weakness, failure and discredit of the municipalities of course did not encourage the change of perspective as well as the brand "neoliberal" reforms suspicions generated more accessions. But was rather the attraction of the central state that has prevailed over efforts to decentralize the state. In the early nineties began to shift from the gender perspective into local and decentralization, the thoughts and voices of women entered the stage of discussions, exchanges of experiences and proposals on the issue of decentralization. Unable
ignore the potential opportunities for local urban and rural areas in Latin America are haunted by the reality of mass poverty and the feminization of poverty which is manifested, among other things, the phenomenon of households increased by a woman especially in the cities, which are the principal but the sole breadwinner of the family.
summary, the presence and participation of women in local areas, considering their diversity, has the following characteristics:
• The local spaces are particularly important since they are the public world where women are more familiar and where to display their skills as managers of social participation to improve the quality of family life and community.
• domestic role is projected in public spaces but not decrease or eliminate gender inequalities. The participation of women focuses on issues and tasks related to the basic needs of the family and community, while men retain the participation in positions of political power in social organizations and local government.
• is perceived and appreciated the participation of women solely in terms of being intermediaries for other welfare purposes and to ensure efficiency in achieving programs. Predominantly an instrumental conception of women's participation associated with severe social problems and emergencies, such as poverty.
• It is unusual to be conceived and values \u200b\u200bwomen as social carriers of their own rights, or that they are appreciated as change agents in local development.
• belief still prevails among municipal authorities and community leaders that women represent a free public service, available all the time and for any problems or social emergency. Women themselves help to reproduce this conviction because of the socialization of gender roles (mother, housewife, wife) and the sexual division work, which recharges on women from housework and childcare.
• You still prevalent belief that women have "more time" than men to devote themselves to serving the needs of the community. Taken for granted unconditional availability ignoring the overload of work, physical and emotional wear and juggling to do to take the time to meet all its obligations gender.
• For women, especially low-income, participation in local public world is an obligation on the need for a citizen's right to participate in public affairs.
The policy called "informal" or "community", which is a form of politics from everyday social environment, women are involved in matters of public interest and experience teach us that:
- establish relationships force and pressure on local authorities;
- demand and manage resources;
- protest, negotiate and influence;
- contribute to improving the quality of life and local development;
- citizens acquire relevant skills;
- achieve self-esteem and social prestige;
- are empowered leadership;
- represent an effective pattern of social participation local politics (Massolo, 1994).
- demand and manage resources;
- protest, negotiate and influence;
- contribute to improving the quality of life and local development;
- citizens acquire relevant skills;
- achieve self-esteem and social prestige;
- are empowered leadership;
- represent an effective pattern of social participation local politics (Massolo, 1994).
A paradoxical dynamics of inclusion and exclusion involves the presence and participation of women in the local public sphere. The fact that they have gained visibility and public voice are recognized does not mean that gender-specific problems, or are seriously evaluated their capabilities and contributions. The revaluation of local governments in Latin America has not parallel with the appreciation of women as citizens rights holders.
As the municipality's level of government and political representation closer to the public related to matters of everyday life, paradoxically has not facilitated the access of women to positions of municipal power. Latin American municipalities lack the plurality of gender as they are mostly headed by men. Clearly not verified a positive correlation between government closer and more formal political participation of women. Therefore, the proximity principle that legitimizes particularly local government, does not operate as a principle that promotes gender equity in access to municipal power. Local governments are marked by gender inequality, although some changes and improvements are occurring.
