Gender relations in

environmental engineering

Case studies from professionals in Paraguay

Alma Fleitas
Environmental Engineering
Universidad Nacional de
Asunción (UNA)
– Faculty of Agrarian Sciences
– More focus on resource
management and conservation
Universidad Católica de
Asunción (UCA)
– Faculty of Engineering
– More focus on sanitary engineering
(waste treatment)
Policy in Paraguay
Law #5508 Promotion, Protection of Maternity and Support of Lactation
– Women can have up to 18 weeks of paid maternity leave for birth of a
child
– For adoption, women can have between from 12-18 weeks (depending
on age)
– Men have 2 weeks of paid paternity leave
– Up to 90 minutes per day allowed to breastfeed for first 6 months of
reinsertion; this can be extended for up to 24 months if with doctor’s
indication
– Women cannot be fired from the moment they notify their pregnancy
to up to 1 year after the birth or adoption
– If more than 30 women work in a public or private institution, there
must be a nursing room for breastfeeding, approved by the Ministry of
Public Health
National Day of the
Paraguayan Woman

– 24th of February
– First Assembly of American
Women held in 1867
– Participants gave up their
precious jewels and belonging
to support the national cause
during the Triple Alliance War
Gender at Work
framework

Source: genderatwork.org
 Employment
public
13%
43%
private
42%
public
57%
58%
private
88%

employed unemployed
employed unemployed

How long did it take you to find your first job?

How long did it take to find your first job?
18% less than 3 months 25%
38% less than 3 months
41% already worked
during school already worked
18% during school
in 3-6 months in 6-12 months

haven't found a job 38%

23%
Methods
– 6 Interviews via phone call to professional
environmental engineers in different fields of
work
– 5 women, 1 man
– From international organizations to local
companies
– Coding of transcripts
– Selection of main themes
Interviewees
Viviana
UNDP Project: Green Chaco
Conservation

Itaipú International Hydroelectric Dam

Maria International relations and communication
for UN SDGs

Natural sciences teacher at private high

Andrés school
Co-founder of NGO for conservation

National Cadastral Service

Andrea Geoprocessing (GIS)

UNDP funded national agrarian reform

Anastasia project
GIS technician
The Positive
– UNDP = Lots of female empowerment and gender equality
– Leaders are seen as equal, depends on personality
– School – students organize gender discussions on National
Women’s Day
– Public institutions have more opportunities and rights for
women, because they are governed by national laws and
hiring transparency
– Most working women do feel equally valued as their male
colleagues in their company, and see no limitations in
leadership positions
“Ok, I’m ready to close the deal. Can you go get your husband
or father?”

“Well of course I agreed to join, with you ladies being so

beautiful…”

The Negative
“I like both of you! One for the office, one for traveling.”

“Gender issues are made up, it depends on your personal merit

and effort!”

“I can’t explain it, but suddenly I just hated you. How could
they choose you over us?”

The WhatsApp group

 Equality Inequality
Results
Not intern
rnal
aliizzed
Equal pay and
treatment Private seccttoor
Family oriented
policy Few protocols or
indicaattoors
Internat
atiioonal
influence Rural aarreeas and
traditions
Discussion

National anti- Changes in rural

discrimination traditions and
laws perceptions

Internalized Increased
formal policies awareness of
and procedures harassment and
discrimination
+ gender
equality
Thank you!