Native Women in the Labor Force: Mexico, US, Canada

The Struggle of Women in Maquiladoras
Over the years, women have been key participants in the work force, labor unions, and strikes. Recently, women have taken part in organizing the labor in the maquiladoras in Mexico. The duty-free assembly plants located on the U.S./Mexican border, known as maquiladoras, have threatened and abused their workers and repeatedly ignored the labor laws. Women have begun to take a stand and fight for their rights as well as for their fellow workers.

Women working Maquiladora (top photo)
workers live in very poor housing(bottom photo)





My name is Martha and I am 34 years old. I began working in the maquiladoras of Ciudad Juárez when I was 16. My current shift at the maquila is from twelve midnight to six in the morning. Because of my schedule — and because I am a widow — I have to leave my three children alone each night. When I leave the house I am very scared that something might happen to me or one of my children, because of all of the things that have been happening to women in Juárez. Just knowing that there are people out there who are killing women in the streets makes me very nervous and wary of anybody I meet on my way to work.

Fact: An average work week lasts 60-70 hours, and wages are estimated at $5.75 for a full day's work. It is estimated that it takes a maquiladora worker 4 hours and 17 minutes of labor to buy a gallon of milk.

Women in the workforce in America
There is a noticeable trend in today's workforce, more women are earning team leader positions in many businesses. Yet, for women in the workforce, there are still many cases where barriers exist that may limit their chances of earning that promotion.

In a recent survey, women in the workforce have emphasised two main problems they find the hardest to deal with in the workplace:

1. Finding the balance between work and family life

2. Finding the most effective way to communicate with males in the workplace





In countries such as Japan, Germany and Italy, which are all troubled by the demographics of shrinking populations, far fewer women work than in America, let alone Sweden. If female labour-force participation in these countries rose to American levels, it would give a helpful boost to these countries' growth rates.

It used to be said that women must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily that is not so difficult.