Nicaraguan Women

Meredith Neville 

WST250

Blog #1

Nicaraguan women have experienced successes and setbacks in their collective journey of human rights. Many have organized together, working to empower women and create systemic change. Some limitations have been due to societal institutions such as government and religion. Other highly influential aspects of women’s rights are the cultural norms, values and practices that shape the population. These cultural norms may vary slightly over time, but they are generally deeply embedded in the values of the society at large, therefore they are difficult to change on a grand scale.

One of these important cultural aspects in Nicaragua is the “machismo” attitude that has shaped the society. Many countries are based on patriarchal systems that view women as subordinate and/or inferior to men in varying degrees and forms. This particular machismo culture in Nicaragua is pervasive in everyday life, shaping both women’s and men’s roles, interactions, and expectations. Machismo culture is characterized by the general idea that women and men are fundamentally different; which manifests as men being thought of as superior to women in most categories. It can be apparent in the view of women being seen as property to men. “At the extreme end of the machismo continuum this can result in abuse, sexual violence, the strangulation of women’s freedoms and femicides” (Tappin). This attitude can account for some of the reasons of the high number of statistics of acts of violence against women. When women are viewed as less than or as fundamentally inferior to males, it is easier for a population to justify the mistreatment and abuse of women and girls. This is clearly a pervasive problem throughout the world, not just Nicaragua, however this machismo-based system of operating perpetuates the violence in all forms.

According to Amnesty International, Nicaragua experienced over 32,000 reports of sexual and domestic abuse in 2012 (Konczal). That only includes cases that have been complained about to authorities, so it is unknown exactly how many abuse incidents occurred that were unreported. It is reported that within the first six months of 2012, 80% of the accounted for sexual abuse victims were 17 or younger (“Annual”).

There are has been progress and also barriers for women’s rights in Nicaragua. An important step forward has been the creation and implementation of Law 779, which protects women and solidifies some basic rights. It is an effort to counteract the machismo culture; as the law states that “the state and its institutions have a duty to guarantee the physical, psychic, moral, sexual, patrimonial and economic integrity of women. It also punishes any kind of gender-based discrimination, including femicide” (Silva). This law was passed in June of 2012 and has large-scale social support, with about 82% of the Nicaraguan surveyed population in support of it (Silva). More abuse cases have been actually prosecuted since the implementation of the law, however not all have been convicted or charged. Although the majority of the Nicaraguan population sees this laws as a positive step forward for women’s well-being, there has been some intense controversy surrounding the law in certain sectors.

Nicaragua is a country heavily influenced by Christianity, especially the Catholic Church and Evangelical Christian Churches. Some strong pushback against Law 779 has been expressed by these churches, because they believe that the law “’destroys families by punishing men’” (Silva). They believe it is unfair to assume that so many men are guilty and should be punished for such crimes. This pushback led the National Assembly of Nicaragua to amend the law and retract part of the degree of protection that is offers to victims of abuse. In September 2013, the Assembly voted to take out part of the law that bans mediation between the victim and abuser after the case has been reported. This has been viewed a threat to women who report abuse, because they may have to be face-to-face with their abuser again to mediate the situation. Women have protested about this reform to the law, because mediation has led to femicide in 13 recorded cases of 2012 (Silva). These women want the protection of the state, not a “chance to ‘work it out’ with their abusers” (Konczal).

Another legal aspect that has strongly influenced the rights of Nicaraguan women has to do with reproductive rights. As mentioned earlier, Christianity is a powerful force in Nicaragua. The Church’s stance on reproductive rights is generally conservative and limiting in women’s options and freedom of choice when it comes to birth control and preventative pregnancy measures. With the combination of the Church influence and a conservative government stance on abortion, a law was passed by the National Assembly of Nicaragua in November of 2006 that criminalized all forms of abortion. This law includes the criminalization of therapeutic abortions, which are preformed only in cases where the mother’s life is at risk during the pregnancy and/or birth (“For Nicaraguans”). Since the implementation of this law, “doctors say they are torn between obeying the dictates of Nicaragua’s new penal code and ensuring their patient’s well-being” (“For Nicaraguans”). Before this law passed, abortion had been legal in the country for over 130 years (“For Nicaraguans”). It has been a heated controversy among Nicaraguan civilians, the government, the Church, and international human rights organizations.

Although cultural and legal factors have enforced the oppression of women in Nicaragua, women have also been empowered by activism and organization. Throughout the years, thousands of Nicaraguan women have organized and protested at the capital city advocating for women’s rights. There are several powerful women’s rights organizations in the country that bring women together in common struggles and successes. One of these influential organizations is the Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres (MAM, which stands for Autonomous Women’s Movement). They are a group that is not associated with the government or religious affiliation, which makes them powerful and diverse. This group has been active in advocating for the reform of laws that limit women’s reproductive rights (Silva). Another important civilian group that is making progress in women’s rights is called Red de Mujeres Contra la Violencia (Women’s Network Against Violence). This group “coordinates over 150 women’s groups, unions, churches and associations committed to eliminating family and sexual violence. Their strategic focus is on political impact, institutional development and feminist training” (“Red”). They have had success in helping to pass a law that protects victims of family violence, and also have worked with police stations to help train over 750 women as advocates for victims of abuse.

Despite challenges, Nicaraguan women are making headway in their own education, employment, and status. These women’s rights groups are helping to make that happen, and women also work very hard to get ahead in society. According to the Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, women make up 40-59% of all university students in the country (82). This proves they are using educational resources and are motivated to learn and become employed. Nicaraguan women work very hard in their formal employment sectors, but many of these women also do extremely hard work in the “informal sector”. Over 50% of women in Nicaragua make money in the informal trade sector in addition to employment in the formal (65). Some of these hard working women also own their own land and/or are the head of the household. Despite the machismo culture of Nicaragua, women account for 16% of the country’s property owners (86). In many ways, women are a strong and empowered population in Nicaragua, gaining access to employment, property, and education.

Nicaragua is a country that has recently experienced many positive and negative effects in terms of women’s rights. Machismo attitudes are inhibiting in many ways, although change may be slowly happening in this area towards gender equality. The strong ties to Christianity, especially Catholicism, have resulted in the limiting of women’s reproductive rights and limited protection for victims of domestic abuse. However, steps have been made by powerful women’s organizations to move forward on the improvement of quality of life for Nicaraguan women. The evidence shows that they are very hardworking, determined, and trying to progress towards change.

Works Cited

“Annual Report: Nicaragua 2013”. Amnesty International USA.  www.amnestyusa.org.

 23 May 2013. Web. 14 Oct 2013.

“For Nicaraguans, International Women’s Day Marks a Step Back”.

Human Rights Watch. www.hrw.org. 7 March, 2008. Web. 14 Oct 2013.

Konczal, Liza. “Violence Against Women: When Will Nicaragua Wake Up?”.

Amnesty International USA. www.blog.amnestyusa.org. 11 Oct 2013. Web. 14 Oct 2013.

“Red de Mujeres Contra la Violencia, Nicaragua”. Global Fund for Women. www.globalfundforwomen.org. 2012. Web. 15 Oct 2013.

Seager, Joni. The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World. Penguin Group, New York. 2009. Print.

Silva, José Adán. “Nicaraguan Women May Have to Negotiate with Their Abusers”. Inter Press Service. www.ipsnews.net. 30 May 2013. Web. 14 Oct 2013.

Tappin, Andrew. “Nicaragua: The Culture of Machismo”. Progressio. www.progressio.org.uk. 11 July 2013. Web. 15 Oct 2013.