Published: August, 2005

We were the Women’s Movement. I certainly wasn’t aware of being part of a “movement” when I graduated from college in 1966. When we formed support groups, my women friends and I were simply trying to sort out our options and make wise choices about boys and babies, contraception and careers.

The term “Women’s Movement” would come later, to describe the efforts of my generation to expand career options, pressure our partners for “sweat equity” in the care of home and children, and reject the notion of career OR family in favor of a balance that embraced both.

The Women’s Movement has remained a defining focus of my life and, wherever I go, I am curious about the status of women and the quality of their relationships with men. When my husband and I traveled to Ecuador last summer, I wanted to learn about the lives of women there.

How are Ecuador’s women faring today? What is being done to help advance the status of women in Ecuador? What more is needed? These are some of the questions we had an opportunity to ask a woman who is in a position to know.

Through the Global Fund for Women, we were able to arrange an interview with Maria Jose Troya. On a crisp sunny morning, we walked from our nearby Quito hotel and found Señora Troya’s office in a modern building that looked rather like an apartment house. A well dressed, elegant and highly educated woman greeted us. Señora Troya is president of Ecuador’s Fundación de Mujeres y Sociadad. She provided us with a candid and informative overview of the status of women in Ecuador. Our conversation was greatly assisted by her niece who had lived in the U.S. for four years and was fluent in English.

We learned that in 1984 an important women’s political group, Mujeres por la Democracia, was formed. Troya became involved in 1986, early in the life of the organization. Another group that has helped catalyze Ecuador’s Women’s Movement is Coordinadora Politica de Mujeres de Ecuador, now active in 17 provinces.

Troya’s professional activities are aimed at increasing the participation of women in government. Ecuadorian policies and practices regarding the rights of women present an ongoing series of contradictions. Ecuador’s progressive constitution, which mandates equal rights for women, was further amended in 1998. In provincial elections, laws stipulate that 40 percent of the listed candidates must be women. However, as we noticed in our travels in Ecuador, there are often wide discrepancies between legislation and common practice. Vivid examples are the fires burning all over the magnificent mountains around Otavalo as well as on the streets of towns and cities.

When we expressed concern about air pollution in this beautiful country, we were informed that burning debris is against the law. These laws are obviously not enforced. Similarly, domestic violence — often associated with alcoholism — is widespread in Ecuador. Laws prohibit family violence, but women are reluctant to report, and there is little effort at enforcement. Maria told us that gradually Ecuadorians are coming around to the idea that domestic violence is not acceptable. Similarly, abortion is forbidden but is a common practice anyway. Generally speaking, lower birth rates are indicative of improving conditions for women. The birth rate in Ecuador is dropping; in the most recent census the population was just over 12 million instead of the anticipated 13 million.

We asked Maria how Ecuadorian women perceive North American women. Her response was a textured, delightful and astute description. “There seem to be three types of Norte Americanas: movie stars, average women and intellectual women.”

Movie stars are seen by Ecuadorians as wild and superficial. Average American women are thought to have a rather simple minded view of the world. “They have everything they need to live a life of comfort, but their world begins and ends with North America. They only see their belly-buttons,” she remarked. By contrast, intellectual women are seen as “very interesting, supportive of worldwide women’s issues, liberal and finding many opportunities to work in society.”

“What do you think Ecuadorian women need most?” I asked. “What would be most helpful in improving the situation for women?” Troya’s answer was immediate. She dreams of creating a leadership school for women. Getting women into political office is not enough. Once there, they need information, guidance, and encouragement in order to be effective and make a difference in the lives of Ecuadorian women. Troya would like to name a leadership training school after Zonia Palán, a prominent and influential economist who died last year of a stroke at age 49.

I was intrigued by her response. In the U.S. there are programs, such as one developed by Emily’s List, which reach out to identify and mentor women interested in political careers. This seems like an idea whose time has come for Ecuador as well. Perhaps, through Global Fund for Women or other women’s organizations, we Norte Americanas can assist Troya in realizing her dream.

This article first appeared in the August 2005 issue of Bay Area

BusinessWoman http://www.babwnews.com and is reprinted with permission. For more information visit http://www.globalfundforwomen.org