Bolivian Women: Exploring Their Height And Culture

Bolivian women are short, with an average height of 5'1 ft (153.9 cm). Bolivian women are among the shortest in the world, with the country occupying the 154th position out of 187 ranked countries in terms of height. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors, including malnutrition, poor healthcare, and the genetic heritage of Amerindian ethnicities. The first two factors are fixable and have become less prevalent in recent years, contributing to a slight increase in the average height of Bolivians.

The impact of machismo on women in Bolivia

Bolivia has the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women among 12 Latin American countries studied by the Pan American Health Organization. The country also has the highest rate of domestic abuse in Latin America, with over 50% of women experiencing some form of abuse in their lifetime, often at the hands of their spouse or partner. This abuse can take many forms, including emotional, physical, and sexual assault.

The root of this issue can be traced to the culture of machismo that is prevalent in Latin America. Machismo is essentially assertively strong male pride, which positions men as dominant and women as docile and submissive. Boys are taught from birth that they have far greater freedom than their sisters and that emotions, adaptation, submissiveness, and domestic work are for girls. This dynamic inevitably affects how men treat and view the women in their lives. Women are never able to escape the cycle of being seen as docile creatures whose only value comes from their ability to perform household chores and care for children.

Machismo also normalizes aggression and violence, including homophobia and domestic and sexual violence. In Bolivia, this has manifested in the form of threats and violence against women in politics, with the aim of scaring them into resigning from their positions or influencing their political decisions. Even outside of politics, machismo has severe consequences for women's health and safety. Women who have suffered sexual abuse experience reproductive health issues, and those who have gone through abuse are more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety in the future.

Bolivia has taken some steps to address the issue of violence against women, passing laws such as the Law Against the Harassment of and Political Violence Against Women in 2012 and the Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a Life Free of Violence in 2013. However, these laws have been criticized for being ineffective, with high rates of femicide and violence against women persisting, and a lack of support and resources for implementation and enforcement.

To truly address the impact of machismo on women in Bolivia, there needs to be a focus on enforcing and implementing existing laws, as well as providing support for women to come forward and share their experiences. Additionally, addressing the cycle of violence and promoting education and economic opportunities for women can help to empower them and break free from the constraints of machismo.

Gender-based violence in Bolivia

While Bolivia has made significant progress in addressing gender-based violence, it remains a pervasive issue. The country has the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women among 12 Latin American countries studied by the Pan American Health Organization. Furthermore, Bolivia has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Latin America, with many cases linked to sexual abuse.

Forms of Gender-Based Violence in Bolivia

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a widespread issue in Bolivia, with women facing physical, sexual, and psychological abuse within their homes. According to a 1986 report from a hospital in La Paz, 66% of the reported cases of rape and abuse were committed against women, and 77.5% of those crimes were perpetrated by husbands or family members. Domestic violence accounts for more than half of all assaults reported in the country, and half of Bolivian women have experienced some form of abuse by an intimate partner.

Sexual Violence and Abuse

Sexual violence and abuse are also prevalent in Bolivia, with rape being one of the most common crimes against women. In the first half of 1995, 3.5 rapes were reported each day, but it is believed that many more cases go unreported due to the private nature of these crimes and the challenges in obtaining proof. Women with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, facing significantly higher rates of sexual violence than those without disabilities.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is another concern in Bolivia, with specialized teams working to address this issue. Awareness and prevention campaigns have been launched, and there are currently 148 people serving sentences for human trafficking crimes in the country.

Efforts to Address Gender-Based Violence in Bolivia

Bolivia has implemented several measures to address gender-based violence:

• The government has developed a draft law prohibiting violence against women through a consultative process with civil society.
• Special courts and prosecutors have been established to deal with violence against women, and units have been set up to expedite court cases.
• A commission has been created to review femicide and rape cases and address the release of perpetrators.
• Femicide has been criminalized, and judges who release perpetrators are being tried.
• Observatories on violence against women have been established, and the Constitutional Court has issued rulings to protect the rights of victims.
• Training and capacity-building programs for judges are being updated to ensure appropriate handling of gender violence cases.
• The Criminal Code is being modified to remove statutes of limitation from rape and femicide crimes.
• Educational institutions have implemented courses on sexual health, and schools are prohibited from expelling pregnant students.
• Awareness campaigns, such as the "Children for Equality" campaign, have been launched to combat gender stereotypes.
• Support is provided for victims of sexual abuse, and legal counsels are in place to guide them.
• Access to safe contraceptives is being improved, and campaigns focusing on teenage pregnancies have been conducted.
• Organizations like Humanity & Inclusion are working alongside communities to reduce risks and protect women with disabilities from violence.
• Community-based initiatives, such as the Gregoria Apaza Women's Promotion Center, empower women to demand, advocate for, and exercise their rights.
• Financial resilience programs and job placement initiatives help women gain financial independence.
• Materials and training are developed to promote women's rights and raise awareness about living a life free from violence.
• Community resources for violence prevention and care are being strengthened to include the needs and participation of women, especially those with disabilities.
• Training sessions for community leaders help women gain knowledge and confidence to exercise their rights and address domestic violence.

Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain. The prosecution rate for gender-based violence cases is low, with only 1% of cases leading to conviction. Additionally, there is a lack of support groups and domestic abuse shelters, contributing to the persistence of violence. Addressing these issues and continuing to implement measures to protect and empower women is crucial to ending gender-based violence in Bolivia.

Women's political participation in Bolivia

In 1976, the Civil Code of Bolivia gave women some rights in a family code and granted personal liberty to all Bolivians. In 1992, women's participation in Bolivian politics had increased by 16%, and in 2009, the number of women elected to parliamentary positions rose from 14% to 28%. As of 2010, 30% of the legislative branch seats were held by women, and Ana Marie Romero became the first woman in Bolivian history to preside over the country's Senate.

Bolivia has continued to make significant strides towards gender parity in politics. As of February 2021, 46.2% of seats in parliament were held by women, the third-highest percentage globally. The country's achievement in reaching gender parity in politics is a result of both its political will and social mobilization by women. Adriana Salvatierra, a 29-year-old senator, became the fourth woman to be elected as the President of the Senate Chambers of Bolivia, and the youngest person to hold this position in the country and in Latin America.

Despite these advances, there are still challenges and barriers to women's political participation in Bolivia, particularly for young, indigenous, rural, and other marginalised women. Efforts to achieve gender parity can put women at risk, as aspiring female politicians continue to face violence, harassment, and intimidation. Political harassment and violence against women in power are common, and there is a lack of effective enforcement of laws to protect them. Bolivia is the only country with a standalone law criminalising violence against women in politics, but efforts to enforce this law have been met with resistance.

Furthermore, while women's representation in legislative bodies has increased, they remain a minority in executive positions. There are no female governors in any of Bolivia's nine regions, and in the national government, only 3 out of 18 ministers are women. Additionally, gender stereotypes and unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities continue to hinder women's political participation.

Women's economic empowerment in Bolivia

While the Bolivian Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, women in Bolivia face discrimination and struggle in several aspects of their lives. Women in Bolivia have some of the highest rates of maternal mortality and illiteracy in the world. They also face domestic violence, with Bolivia having the highest prevalence of domestic violence against women in Latin America. Women in Bolivia are also exposed to excessive machismo and are often used as promotional tools in advertising, which solidifies stereotypes and assumptions about them.

Despite these challenges, there have been some successes in empowering women in Bolivia. Women's participation in Bolivian politics has increased, with 46.2% of seats in parliament held by women as of February 2021. Additionally, the Bolivian government has acknowledged that laws protecting women are not enough, and organizations like the Coordinadora de la Mujer have been started to advocate for policy change and lawmaking.

One example of economic empowerment for women in Bolivia is the work of UN Women in the Bolivian Amazon. Through a series of economic empowerment projects, women in northern Bolivia are protecting their forests while also improving their economic situation. The project involves processing wild fruits from the Amazon jungle, with funding and technical assistance provided by UN Women and Bolivia's Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy. The project has led to improved incomes and knowledge for the women involved, and has also contributed to forest conservation and the revitalization of the local economy.

Another example is the work of Habitat Bolivia, which is training female heads of households to serve as community leaders and secure tenure promoters in the city of Cochabamba. The program covers housing, human rights, advocacy, and leadership topics, and aims to improve women's access to land and ensure more secure tenure.

Despite these successes, there is still work to be done to achieve gender equality in Bolivia. Women and girls aged 15 and older spend 23.1% of their time on unpaid care and domestic work, compared to only 12.6% for men. Women in Bolivia also face barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights, with only 50.3% of women having their needs for family planning satisfied with modern methods in 2016. Additionally, women in Bolivia have lower labor force participation rates than men, which contributes to the income gap between men and women.

Access to education for women in Bolivia

Although the Bolivian Constitution guarantees equal rights for women and men, women in Bolivia face discrimination and struggles in several aspects of their lives. According to a 2014 Perception Survey on Women's Exclusion and Discrimination, all women in Bolivia feel discriminated against in different aspects of their lives, with indigenous women being the most affected.

Despite improvements in access to education in Bolivia in recent years, significant gender gaps persist among indigenous and rural students. In urban areas, indigenous female students are about half as likely to finish secondary school compared to non-indigenous male students. In contrast, indigenous rural women are five times less likely than non-indigenous urban men to complete secondary school. Factors such as domestic care work, early pregnancy, and the need for income prevent girls from attaining higher levels of schooling in Bolivia. Additionally, one in five female students aged 15 to 24 report experiencing discrimination in academic environments, with 25% of indigenous women and 18% of non-indigenous women affected.

The quality and endurance of a child's education in Bolivia largely depend on their socioeconomic status, region, and gender. According to a UNICEF report, a girl living in the Amazon may only receive two years of schooling, while a boy from an affluent family in the city could receive up to 14 years of education. Within cities, there is also a gender disparity among ethnicities. For example, a city girl of indigenous background is only half as likely to complete her education as an urban boy of non-indigenous background.

Since the early 1970s, education from ages 6 to 13 has been mandatory in Bolivia. However, nationwide education rates after primary school have decreased drastically, with less than a quarter of young adults attending. The infrastructure of the education system, especially in rural areas, is underdeveloped, further hindering girls' access to education. Despite these challenges, Bolivia is making efforts to improve its education system.

Initiatives to Improve Access to Education for Women in Bolivia

Bolivia has implemented various initiatives to address the gender gap in education. The Avelino Siñani-Elizardo Pérez law, passed in 2010, aims to make education a plurinational system in the country. As a result, alternative and special education are on the rise. Alternative education provides schooling for those aged 15 and above, known as continuing education outside the classroom. Special education focuses on helping people with disabilities learn. The law also emphasizes complementing and articulating humanistic education with gender equity.

UNICEF has also played a crucial role in bridging the disparity among gender and ethnicity in the education system. They have adopted a gender-based approach to reach the most impoverished areas of the country and provide girls with a better education. Their strategy includes a three-part system of "multilingual education, right-age enrollment, and child-centered pedagogy." By focusing on educating and providing resources for girls from adolescent ages, UNICEF aims to remove roadblocks for children in Bolivia.

Additionally, organizations like CEFIM (Centro de Formación Integral para la Mujer), a technical institute established in La Paz 30 years ago, provide practical and theoretical training to any woman with at least four years of education. CEFIM aims to empower female migrants by offering training in domestic work, gastronomy, and elder and child care. The institute has trained over 5,000 women, contributing to improved skills, employability, and self-esteem among Bolivian women.

Frequently asked questions