Economy and Gender Roles of Mexico

By: Giana Gallo

The second week of the International Business Program provided students with the history of Mexico from an economic and gender perspective. Maestra Lilia Venegas lectured on “Recent Political History with a Gender Perspective” followed by Maestro Salvador Guzman Zapata's talk on “A Recent Economic History."

Venegas began her lecture by describing the conditions and expectations of women before the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Women lived in a “hegemonic and conservative culture, in which they needed to get permission and a male escort to work.” Even after the war, for which many women fought and helped by sending messages, they had trouble receiving pensions for their services. The stereotypical figure of “Adelita”, a wife who follows her husband and cooks for him, was considered the ideal and is the most well-known role for women during the revolution. Venegas explained how Mexican history has had a divergent impact on half of the population.

She also highlighted the effects of the machismo attitude on women in the political arena in her lecture by speaking about the struggle for women's suffrage in Mexico. President Lazaro Cardenas, demonstrated his machismo when he refused to publish in a federal newspaper the women's right to vote in 1938, which was the ordinary custom with new laws. It was not until 1953 that women in Mexico received the right to vote.

Maestro Guzman giving students a timeline of Mexico's economic history

In his talk on “Recent Economical History”, Maestro Salvador Guzman Zapata spoke about the different economies that Mexico has seen and how they have left a lasting effect on the country. Beginning with the semi-feudal system instituted by the Spanish in 1521, the economy later evolved into a hacienda system under President Porforio Diaz in the late 1800's. When negotiating with businesses in Mexico, it is important to be aware of the strong sense of self-preservation that has resulted from the oppression of conquests and dictatorships that Mexicans have had to endure. Mexico nationalized its oil and petroleum companies in 1940's, only to suffer greatly in the international oil crisis in 1976. Today, due to its great foreign debt, Mexico has been forced to adopt the neo-liberal economic model designed by the International Monetary Fund.

Guzman also spoke about an incident in Tepoztlan, Mexico, where an American investor failed to take Mexican culture into account. The intended space for the proposed 500 million dollar project, a golf course designed by pro-golfer Jack Nicklaus, was to be built over an archaeological site. Local government approved the project, but when the public received the news, protests ensued. After weeks of public outcry, which included the holding of six hostages, the investment project was abandoned. Though this is an extreme example, it serves as a reminder that problems can arise when a foreign investor does not take into account all of the shareholders. Investors should have researched the area beforehand and should have adhered to the cultural obligations that arose.

Both speakers equipped me, as a student in International Business, with information that will be highly useful in my future career. Understanding the roots of a country's corporate culture is extremely important to success in the business sector. I believe these talks aided in my understanding of Mexican history so that one day I might be able to start a business or establish prosperous partnership here.