Participation and leadership of Guanajuato women

Abstract

This descriptive and exploratory study has identified in a group of women leadership characteristics, opportunities, challenges and proposals from a gender perspective. Questionnaires were applied to 55 women from the municipality of Leon, Guanajuato. Results: Some of the leader’s characteristics demonstrate: initiative, security, commitment, honesty, leadership, knowledge, character, entrepreneurship, responsibility and sensibility, power of decision, cooperation, strength, confidence, solidarity, autonomy, service and pursuit of the wellbeing. Opportunities for participation in public life have more demands; however, there is still a lack of gender-inclusive programs. Regarding the difficulties they faced to project their ideas of change, they mentioned as major obstacles the machismo, discrimination and lack of educational opportunities; the housewife’s role, the lack of development programs, struggle for the feminine ideals, freedom of speech, lack of initiative and credibility, oppression, violence and abuse. The proposals to improve the options of development have as main approaches: training, education, empowerment, employment, opportunities, government support, fair laws, skills recognition, respect, teamwork and human development. The information is relevant to characterize the successful cases of women who have managed to transcend into leadership positions within a typically conservative society in the Mexican context.