Mexico today is seeking to become less authoritarian, less presidential, less centralized and more open to the world. Few countries have undertaken more significant market oriented and economic reform changes than Mexico in the past 20 years. Despite these welcome transformations, Mexico's economic troubles will compound if the country does not successfully confront the deep social and economic problems found in its labor practices. Some of the problems they face today include gender issues, wage inequalities, the education of its labor force, and labor union relations. .
Admitting, "No society treats its women as well as its men" (Cuetera, P.143) is the first step to understanding the gender issues and disparities between the sexes in a patriarchal society such as Mexico. Recent studies showed that only 29 percent of women in comparison to 87 percent of men are currently employed (Katz, P. 204). The level at which women experience sexism varies based on the size of the organization and the work unit within the company. In Mexico, women's earning potential is negatively affected when combining work and school in relation to men. This can be attributed to occupational differences found at an early age that do not allow women to obtain the much needed skills to be successful in the various economic sectors of the country (Katz, P.206). This is the result of young girls remaining at home uneducated and in charge of maintaining the household, while young boys are obligated to join the workforce. .
Growth of women in the labor force has proven to be contingent upon the implementation of public policy measures. Increasing the earning potential of women will not resolve the inequalities experienced and will not increase their workforce participation unless public policies are implemented. Therefore, over the last few decades, the Mexican government began addressing the issue by implementing programs and actions relating to women.
