Women's Rights in Costa Rica

First off, I think it is a good sign for women's rights that Costa Rica's current president is a woman. This is a picture of Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla Miranda.

She is the first woman president of Costa Rica and was elected in 2010, and the 6th female president to be elected in Latin America


President Chinchilla has stated “Women continue receiving less salary for the same kind of job,” in a 2011 Forbes interview. “Women have a higher unemployment rate in our country. When you analyze the composition of poverty, you will find that most of the families in poverty are being run by a woman. Also, a big issue is violence against women.” (Source 1)

Other facts:

Women in Costa Rica make 90% of what men earn at work. That's actually pretty good, but their unemployment rate is higher.

The enrollment and attendance rate is higher for girls in primary and secondary schools than is is for boys.

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The president mentioned that violence against women is an issue, so I looked it up. I found that men use stupid excuses to justify their violence. Groups blame sexual violence on the way that women dress or act. This has led to there being political protests in the form of "Slut Walks." I think that it is awesome that they are able to have this kind of protest. If women were to attempt this sort of thing in Middle Eastern countries, they'd probably be shot.

Costa Rica is a Roman Catholic country. It is not socially accepted that women are as sexual as men are. Abortions in Costa Rica are illegal. The president is against legalizing the morning after pill.

SOURCES:
http://www.peacexpeace.org/2012/09/costa-rica-a-good-place-to-be-a-woman/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Chinchilla

http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/latino-daily-news/details/take-a-look-at-costa-ricas-own-slut-walk-video/9667/

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/08/19/costa-rica-slut-walk-discussions-on-religion-and-womens-rights/