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Women in Spain, by Elizabeth Villagómez

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Women in Decision Making

Given the improvement in labour market figures, it is not surprising that women in Spain have also entered the political and economic decision making arena over the past 30 years with strong growth, but in some cases still weak presence, in top level positions of public and private institutions. In the political arena, the present government has been the only one achieving a 50% quota of women as ministers[1]. However, the percentages reached as secretaries of state, under secretaries and general directors remains below 25%. The two largest national parties (Socialists PSOE and Christian Democrats PP) have not achieved a 50% representation of women and men in their parliamentary groups, however, the levels above 25% are an improvement over the 5% back in 1982 (0% before that).

Although public employment is one of the most favoured by women due to the better possibilities of reconciling work and family life, women are concentrated in the administrative posts (70%) although in total they make up 50% of public sector workers. Their presence among the highest level posts is less than 20%. Finally Women's presence in the top publicly traded firms in Spain in only 3.4%.

Conclusions

Women in Spain have made great strides in improving their situation with regard to education and employment, but continue to encounter barriers to reach the highest positions in the public and private spheres and they seem to be doing this sacrificing having a family and if they have a family by sacrificing their health and time with their family. In addition to this, they continue to experience pay discrimination. The influx of immigrant women over the past 10 years is posing new problems and challenges as already weak public services that support women's employment are under great strain and these women have different needs depending on their country of origin. Roma women and disabled women are two groups which remain to be included in all policies and budgetary efforts. The lag in services and the inadequate tax-benefit rules in Spain seem to be two of the areas where public policy needs to concentrate efforts if the rights guaranteed by national and international commitments can be consolidated and further improvement recorded. Further thinking, not only in Spain, needs to be done on the impact of macroeocnomic policies (particularly expenditure and taxing) on women's status as well as the impact of social and cultural changes that lead to unhealthy and stressful adoption of roles as workers, mothers, partners, etc.

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