The political cost of gender inequalities and the Theory of Social Capital

Abstract

Social inequalities are among the major concerns in countries such as Brazil and others in Latin America and the Caribbean. Studies and surveys confirm the prevalence of this phenomenon as well as the people’s perception of the position of the region among the most unequal in the world. At the same time, gender inequalities become priorities in the agenda of local governments as well as for international and social agents. This paper discusses the political cost of these inequalities considering their intersection with racial, ethnic and other kinds of discrimination. It aims at measuring economic, political, educational and health aspects related to the reality of gender. The paper argues that the maintenance of this phenomenon hinders the full development of countries and regions by affecting societies as a whole. In this framework it considers the concept of social capital as a theoretical alternative to political projects focused on infra-structural and labor programs that do not take into account either the restrictions of their populations or the need for investments combining social policies and women’s empowerment. The topic is theoretically situated in feminist studies as well as in political science. Based on data aggregated by sex/gender, race/ethnic group of the present and of the last decade, this study argues that the reality of Brazilian women heightens the poverty levels and generates economic, social and political instability. The establishment of social capital represents an effective way to enforce human rights, to consolidate democratic relations between the state and society and to reduce political costs generated by gender inequalities.

Key words: social inequalities, gender, empowerment, social capital.