Women and Survival in Mexican Cities: Perspectives on Gender, Labour Markets and Low-income Households - Hardcover

This book explores the question of key determinants of female labour force participation in the context of a comparative study of three intermediate Mexican cities with very different kinds of economy. The book also addresses the question of whether household structures themselves have different configurations under different economic conditions, how far this relates to the representation of low-income women in the local economy and in turn how variations in female labour force involvement and household structure shape men's, women's and children's experiences of urban poverty. On the basis of interviews with low-income households and local employers, the study attempts to provide an analysis of the articulations between women, employment and household survival strategies in contemporary urban Mexico. The book provides historical, economic and demographic details of the study cities with reference to Mexican development as a whole in the post-war period and considers the labour demand in the three cities by looking at policies and practices of gender recruitment in key sectors of the respective local economies. It examines a range of factors at household level which influence female labour supply and provides and analysis of changes in household structure and women's employment in Queretaro between 1982-3 and 1986 based on direct longitudinal research. The text also considers the implications of women's work and household structure for the survival and welfare of the poor and ends with a summary of the research findings and a brief comment on the future for low-income Mexican women, concluding with suggestions as to "ways forward" for the analysis of gender, households and economic development.