Gender equality will not come quickly in Chile

Subject

Women's rights issues.

Significance

Student protests and sit-ins that began in April after a university in southern Chile initially refused to dismiss a lecturer accused of repeated sexual harassment have focused attention on culturally embedded discriminatory attitudes towards women as distinct from more concrete aspects of their rights and inclusion.

Impacts

• Having obtained most of their more specific demands, student protesters may find it difficult to maintain momentum in the short term.
• GDP growth would benefit significantly if women’s participation in the workforce were to increase.
• Chile’s still limited grounds for abortion are likely to emerge as a future rallying call for women’s demands.