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Women study more and even reconcile a variety of tasks at work and at home. But they continue to receive the lowest salaries on the market. The good news is that the difference between what women and men are paid has been decreasing in Brazil.
A study by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) shows that until the beginning of the 1990's, men earned as much as 50% more in Brazil. This difference is now down to close to 30%. These data may be found in the book, "Women's Progress in Brazil," which the UNIFEM will launch this Friday, March 3, in São Paulo. The study analyzes research charting the trajectory of women between 1992 and 2002. "Although there has been a significant advance, the disparity shows that women encounter difficulties in overcoming obstacles in the market," comments Júnia Puglia, one of the coordinators of the project. According to Puglia, the 1988 Brazilian Constitution permitted progress on behalf of rights and the prevalence of individual rights in Brazil. There has been a gradual evolution in women's leadership roles and participation in public life. "But the country's political panorama provides no incentive for the population to vote for women. "Brazil's position is inferior to the Latin American average, with women comprising less than 10% of the national legislature," Puglia reveals. "From the standpoint of female representation, it would be very important for them to be more successful in the career of politics." The UNIFEM book will be distributed mostly to researchers, universities, and government policy-makers. An exclusive Internet site was set up to propagate the work to a wider public. The site (www.mulheresnobrasil.org.br) presents the contents of the study, as well as related analyses, articles, and tables. Agência Brasil
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