Bolivian Women: Grievance Settlement Through Unique Cultural Lens

Bolivia has the highest indigenous population in Latin America, and its women face struggles and discrimination in several aspects of their lives. Despite the Bolivian Constitution guaranteeing equal rights for men and women, women are often subjected to domestic violence, excessive machismo, and objectification in advertising. They also face challenges in education, economic participation, and political involvement due to illiteracy, limited access to healthcare, and traditional gender roles. While there have been legal reforms to protect women's rights, poor implementation and enforcement of these laws persist. In the context of settling grievances, Bolivian women have staged protests against the high levels of violence inflicted on them, with a particular focus on political violence and harassment. Despite legal measures to address these issues, women's groups claim that the laws are not adequately implemented, and there is a lack of access to justice and protection for complainants.

Violence and threats against women in politics

Since 1997, the number of women in political positions in Bolivia has significantly increased. In 2010, a law was adopted requiring half of all party nominees at the federal, state, and local levels to be women. As a result, women achieved full parity in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP) after the 2014 elections. However, this progress has been met with a wave of violence and threats against women in politics.

In 2012, two separate assassinations of female councillors brought the issue of gender-based political violence to the forefront. Councilwoman Juana Quispe was strangled and thrown into the Orkojahuira River in the La Paz area. Just three months later, Councilwoman Daguimar Rivera Ortiz was assassinated in the city of Guyaramerin. Both women had been taking measures to combat and investigate corruption in their local governments.

The Association of Councilors of Bolivia (ACOBOL) reported over 4,000 complaints of violence and harassment from female politicians between 2003 and 2011. In response to the growing problem, Bolivia became the first country in the world to pass a standalone law criminalizing violence against women in politics. Law 243, enacted in 2012, establishes prison sentences of two to eight years for different types of violence. Despite this legislation, enforcement remains a challenge, with a slow justice system and a lack of recognition of gender-based discrimination by the police.

The increase in political representation for women has led to a spotlight on the issues of harassment and political violence. Women in power, such as Indigenous mayors and councillors, often suffer political harassment and violence from their male peers. They face additional obstacles and pushback as they enter a patriarchal and sexist system. This backlash is driven by a resistance to change and a desire to maintain the status quo.

The violence and threats against women in politics in Bolivia have created significant barriers for women aspiring to political office. It discourages women from participating in politics and seeking leadership positions. Efforts to address this issue are crucial to ensuring gender parity and promoting women's political participation.

Domestic violence

The side effects of violence on women can include frequent headaches, bursts of fear, hearing voices, seizures, and/or convulsions. These side effects often lead to suicidal thoughts. Bolivia has a ratio of less than 1 mental health provider per 100 citizens. The providers that are available are too expensive for the average citizen, especially those who married for money.

The informal living quarters in Bolivia, with dwellings self-built and lacking basic services like water, also contribute to the exposure of women to violence. This is due to the overcrowding that has led to high poverty rates in the country.

In 2013, Bolivia passed a new comprehensive domestic violence law, outlawing many forms of abuse of women, including marital rape. However, impunity for violent crime and human rights violations remains a serious problem in the country. The administration of President Evo Morales has created a hostile environment for human rights defenders, undermining their ability to work independently.

Historically, a husband was legally allowed to beat his wife or children to show his paternal authority until 1973. Since 1995, domestic violence has been illegal, but it still makes up more than half of all assaults reported in the country. Half of Bolivian women have experienced sexual, physical, or psychological abuse by a partner. A United States State Department report in 1998 reported that 5% of women were physically abused and 48% psychologically abused. The Bolivian government estimates that approximately 100,000 incidents go unreported each year. The lack of women's support groups and domestic abuse shelters also contribute to the persistence of violence.

Harassment and intimidation of women councillors

Women in Bolivia face struggles and discrimination in several aspects of their lives. Despite the constitution guaranteeing equal rights for men and women, men receive better education, better healthcare, and have the possibility to generate greater income while working less. Bolivia also has the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women among 12 Latin American countries, and women are exposed to excessive machismo, being used as promotional tools in advertising that solidify stereotypes and assumptions about them.

Bolivian women have been staging protests against the high levels of violence inflicted on them. In 2012, a law was passed to tackle political violence against women, making political harassment a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and physical, sexual, or psychological aggression punishable by up to eight years. However, activists claim that the problem is not being adequately addressed, and there is a lack of clarity on how victims can use the legislation to seek justice.

Women councillors in Bolivia face an enduring crisis of physical and verbal attacks, harassment, and threats. Harassment or violence is often aimed at forcing women councillors to sign documents or support decisions, or at restricting or blocking the effective performance of their functions. The reasons behind such violence are complex and related to socio-cultural barriers and gendered expectations around domestic and childcare responsibilities.

The intimidation and violence faced by women councillors in Bolivia have real consequences, with only 9% of women leaders standing for office a second time. Women councillors report being bullied by colleagues and pressured into resigning. Some have even received death threats.

To address this issue, there have been calls for better implementation and enforcement of laws protecting women from violence and harassment, as well as increased access to justice and protection for complainants.

Lack of clarity over how victims can use legislation to get justice

Bolivia has made significant legislative strides to address gender discrimination and violence against women. In 2012, a law was passed that made political harassment a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and physical, sexual, or psychological aggression punishable by up to eight years. This was followed by another law in 2013 that identified 15 specific types of violence against women and increased sentences, in some cases, from four to 30 years. Additionally, a new constitution was adopted, providing for equal representation between men and women candidates at all levels.

However, there is a lack of clarity regarding how victims can use this legislation to obtain justice. Women's groups and activists claim that the laws are not being effectively implemented and that there is a lack of access to justice, protection for complainants, and delays in case proceedings. The problem is further compounded by a deep-rooted culture of machismo and domestic violence, with Bolivia having the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women among 12 Latin American countries, according to a Pan American Health Organization study.

The complex nature of the issue is evident in the case of Petronila Aliaga, a councillor in Colquencha, who has faced multiple threats, intimidation, and attempts to force her to resign. The reasons behind such violence are multifaceted, including socio-cultural barriers, domestic responsibilities, and a macho culture that devalues women. As a result, only 9% of women leaders seek a second term in office, highlighting the detrimental impact of this issue on Bolivia's democracy.

Women's domestic, childcare and agricultural responsibilities

Women in Bolivia are responsible for almost all domestic work and childcare, and often have agricultural responsibilities as well. Bolivian women and girls are expected to take care of the house, cook, and look after their younger siblings. In rural areas, women also work in the fields, and in urban areas, they may work as street vendors.

Women in Bolivia face struggles and discrimination in several aspects of their lives. Bolivian society holds that women have the almost exclusive responsibility for domestic work and childcare. This perception is so strong that women who do paid work outside the home are still expected to do all the domestic work and childcare.

Women's responsibilities in the home and fields mean that they have less time for paid work. Women's participation in economic development increased from 22.5% to 40% between 1976 and 2002, and as of 2002, 44% of women worked. However, women in urban areas tend to have the least-paying and unproductive types of jobs, which is believed to be due to the lack of educational opportunities for women and the educational requirements for better jobs. In rural areas, women struggle more due to their gender and indigenous identity. As of 1992, rural working women had risen from 18.3% in 1976 to 38.1%, but working conditions are often poor, wages low, and productivity low. Some employers require women to sign agreements not to get pregnant. Indigenous women tend to work long hours as street vendors or domestic workers. Women who work as domestic workers tend to work more hours, with less time off and low pay.

Despite growth in workforce participation, women's income capacity has changed very little. Increased distribution of wealth for women since 1990 until 2003 grew only by 3%. As of 2001, women's wages were only 75% of men's wages. Professional women make even less, at only 69%. It is more difficult for a woman to obtain a bank loan than it is for a man, due to the fact that most women will be unable to repay the loans due to limited financial backing.

In Bolivia, women who know only Spanish earn 28% more than women who are bilingual in Spanish and an indigenous language. Women who are bilingual earn 25% more than women who only speak an indigenous language. For women, the difference in making a certain amount of money in the labor market depends highly on their language skills. It is because it depends on the areas in how much they value Spanish for productivity in the labor market. Also, because of discrimination against indigenous people who are most likely poorly educated and have low-quality Spanish skills.

Although workplace childcare policies are relatively new in Bolivia, the country is making progress, for example by promoting breastfeeding rooms and day-care facilities. However, such policies are of little use when employers fail to respect labor regulations. Under Bolivia's General Labour Law, female employees are entitled to 45 days of fully paid leave before and after delivery, and more time if complications arise, while companies with more than 50 employees are required to provide crèches and spaces for breastfeeding. In practice, however, companies do not respect these regulations, and the state has failed to implement a system for monitoring compliance.

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