Crisis, adjustment and the dynamics of gender relations in Central America and the Caribbean

This paper examines the dynamics of gender relations in Central America and the Caribbean, in particular between 1980 and 1990. Most countries of the region experienced economic crisis and carried out stabilization measures. Starting point for the paper is that gendered effects of crisis and adjustment are caused and mediated by existing gender inequalities of different types: cultural inequality, inequality in power, and inequality in access to social and economic assets.
The paper finds, among other conclusions, that gender equality improved in this period. It appears that cultural trends, public policies, and the strength of the women's movement played a role in improving the relative situation of women. The existing gender equality in a country proved to be of little predictive value for the impact of the economic crisis on gender equality.