There are more females than males in Mexico. In fact, there are 94.8 men for every 100 women in the country.
The map below shows gender inequality, using a composite gender inequality index based on the state rankings for three variables: difference in literacy rates between male and females, differences in rates of economic participation and the percentage of municipal leaders who are female. (Data sources are listed below)
The overall pattern of gender disparity is quite similar to the pattern for female quality of life, but there are some anomalies. Southern states are those where both the quality of life for females and the gender disparities are greatest. However, while females living in the three states comprising the Yucatán peninsula have a comparatively low quality of life, the gender disparities in those states are relatively low. On the other hand, while the quality of life in and around Mexico City is quite high for females, the level of disparities in central Mexico remains considerable.
Gender inequality is not an intangible aspect of life. Figures show that there are significant differences in the median wages of male and female employees in every subsection of the workforce with the exception of skilled technicians where females’ median wages are fractionally higher. For instance, the median wage for female teachers is 91.2% that for men; for professionals, 82.7%; and for industrial supervisors 66.9%… (extract from chapter 29 of Geo-Mexico)
Sources of data for composite index:
Literacy: (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía) 2000 XII Censo General de Población y Vivienda. 2000. Aguascalientes, Mexico: INEGI.
Economic participation: INEGI-STPS 2001 Encuesta Nacional de Empleo, 2001. via .inegi.org.mx/ [13 April 2009]
Female municipal presidents: INAFED 2002 Resumen nacional de la filiación política de los presidentes municipales de México. http://www.elocal.gob.mx/
work/resources/LocalContent/9523/1/filiacion.htm.orig [15 April 2009]
Link to a pdf map (in color) of vegetation zones. Link opens in Acrobat Reader. Map is color version of Figure 5.1 in Geo-Mexico.
Figure 5-1-Vegetation zones – in color
All rights reserved.
Mexico’s flagship social development program featured in a recent (29 Dec 2009) PBS Newshour segment.
Maybe they read an advance copy of Geo-Mexico (chapter 29)?
Oportunidades (Opportunities) is a government social assistance program to help families overcome poverty. Begun in 2002, it is an extension of Progresa, a program which started in 1997. Oportunidades provides conditional cash transfers every two months to families which meet specific geographic and economic criteria of poverty. The transfers only continue if family members meet a series of goals including children’s regular attendance at school and family visits to the nearest clinic for regular nutrition and health advice. Additional economic incentives are offered for the completion of each grade of school with special emphasis on ensuring that girls complete high school. The payment recipients are usually mothers, who make most child and family health decisions.
In 2008, Oportunidades managed a budget of $3.6 billion. This budget is managed very efficiently with only 4% going towards administrative expenses and on-going research. It helps 5 million families, about one-quarter of all families in Mexico. These families tend to live in the most marginal communities. Oportunidades operates in 93,000 different localities throughout the country, 86% of which are in rural areas. In Chiapas the program helps 61% of all families. The corresponding figures for two other poor states—Oaxaca and Guerrero—are 53% and 52% respectively.
Geo-Mexico goes on to evaluate the success of the program, before concluding that,
Oportunidades is one of the most-studied social programs on the planet. It has been very positively received by international agencies and is a model for similar conditioned payment programs in some 30 other countries. A pilot program called Opportunity NYC is being evaluated in New York City.
Richard Rhoda and Tony Burton’s long awaited “Geo-Mexico: the Geography and Dynamics of Modern Mexico” is scheduled for release January 9. The book’s kick-off is the focus of several events beginning with a Monday January 11, 12:30 PM presentation on “Man and Nature in Mexico” by Burton and Rhoda at the weekly ACA Eco Talks on the back patio of Lake Chapala Society (LCS) in Ajijic. Note this event is on Monday, not the usual Tuesday ACA Eco Talks time slot. On Wednesday January 13 Burton (with Rhoda) will speak at the Canadian Club meeting at La Nueva Posada in Ajijic, 3 to 6 PM. On January 15 the two authors will be at the LCS Sala to initiate Dr. Rhoda’s series of ten Friday noon lectures based on the book. Sala space is limited, so interested participants should sign up at the LCS Office. A formal book signing is scheduled for Saturday January 16 at La Nueva Posada from 4 to 6 PM.
Geo-Mexico, which lists at $39.95 in the US, will be available locally for $390 pesos at the following locations: in Ajijic – Libros y Revistas Chapala (Bugambilias Plaza Newsstand), Diane Pearl’s Collection, La Nueva Posada, Lois Cugini’s Opus Boutique and LCS patio; in Jocotepec – Papeleria O’Shea; Guadalajara – Sandi Bookstore. It should also soon be available in San Miguel de Allende at El Tecolote Bookstore, the Biblioteca gift shop, and Garrison and Garrison Books as well as in Puerto Vallarta at The Book Store.
Richard Rhoda, PhD Geographer and Ajijic resident since 1999, has directed major development programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as authored a book on development planning. In addition to teaching several university level geography courses and publishing numerous articles in professional journals, Rhoda has delivered scores of lectures on such topics as modern Mexico, development, urban systems, migration, environment and demography.
Tony Burton is a geographer, naturalist and author whose passion is Mexico, especially the Lake Chapala area. Burton, who lived full time in Mexico for 17 years, is author of countless articles on the geography, history and ecology of Mexico as well as two books, the very popular Western Mexico, A Traveller’s Treasury and Lake Chapala through the Ages, an Anthology of Travelers’ Tales, a fascinating collection of more than fifty first-hand accounts of the Chapala area spanning the period 1530 to 1910. He also designed and produced the full-color “Lake Chapala Maps,” much emulated but never surpassed!
“Geo-Mexico,” a Fascinating View of Modern Mexico
Sub-heading: New ground-breaking book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of modern Mexico from climates to culture, economy to ecosystems, population to politics, transportation to tourism, and globalization to gated communities. It is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in Mexico.
The book assesses Mexico’s success in meeting its demographic, economic, and environmental challenges in comparison to other major world countries. Did you realize that Mexico is one of only six world countries which rank in the top 15 worldwide in terms of population, economic production and land area? “Geo-Mexico” is the first book in English for adults specifically about Mexico’s geography for at least 150 years! It utilizes a variety of concepts, models and theories to engage readers in contemporary issues such as development, international migration, urban sprawl, sustainability and hazards like hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes and global warming. “Geo-Mexico” explains Mexico’s growing north-south, urban-rural divide in terms of economic production, income, quality of life, culture, and voting patterns. It traces historical processes behind Mexico’s current patterns of landforms, population, urbanization, transportation, communications, tourism and migration.
Geo-Mexico’s thirty easy-to-read chapters (8 pages on average) cover all aspects of Mexico’s geography in surprising depth. The book has more than 100 original maps, graphs and diagrams. Over 50 text boxes highlight illustrative examples and case studies. For example, did you know that Mexico’s Copper Canyon is larger than the USA’s Grand Canyon? or that Mexico’s world renowned poverty program, Oportunidades, is being replicated in New York City? or that current Mexican newborns have excellent odds of living to be 100 or more? Geo-Mexico, which includes complete references, notes, bibliography, and index, is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in Mexico.
Henry W. Bullamore, Ph.D., AICP, Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for International Education at Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532 writes:
I am truly impressed with the book… the depth of research and analysis is impressive. This is not a minor supplemental book, but a comprehensive analysis of what is going on in Mexico today…
This book presents a clear explanation of key concepts, and a contemporary discussion of how they apply to modern Mexico. This book will change students’ ideas about Mexico, and allow them to see Mexico as a modern state, not just as a source area for migrants. The book is supported by excellent maps, charts, and data tables.
