The gender wage gap remains a prevalent and complex issue across the world, with a variety of socioeconomic consequences for men and women alike. In the context of Cuba, one of the few countries that openly claims to be socialist, understanding the extent of the wage gap and its causes is crucial in the fight against poverty. Reports suggest that, on average, Cuban women earn almost half of what Cuban men earn. 

The following is an overview of the state of the gender wage gap in Cuba, evaluating current government policies to tackle the issue and considering the necessity of further action to foster gender equality and eradicate poverty in the country.

What Causes the Gender Wage Gap in Cuba? 

While the perspectives on gender in Cuba were irrevocably changed following the Revolution, this failed to overturn the culture of machismo (exaggerated pride in one’s masculinity) that had been so deeply entrenched in the country beforehand. Machismo culture survives to this day, propping up gendered expectations of men and women in the workplace and home, and therefore exacerbating the Cuban gender wage gap and disparities that so many feel in the country. 

Women have been educated in very large numbers in Cuba as a result of the Revolution’s commitment to universal and free education, with UNESCO reporting that 98% of both girls and boys enroll in public schools. In fact, women graduate from university in Cuba at a higher rate than men — 63% of higher education graduates are women. However, it is clear that even high levels of education do not guarantee equal opportunities in the workforce. Gendered roles are enforced at every level of society, with only 41.3% of Cuban women participating in the labor force, compared to 68.3% of Cuban men. 

Cuban women, even those who graduate university, are typically restricted to lower paid, lower skilled work than men as a result of gendered expectations surrounding the ‘motherhood penalty’ — people expect women to raise children and maintain households first, and join the workforce second. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuban women assumed a greater role in the household than was previously expected; children staying at home meant that they required a greater level of care, further restricting the ability of women to join the workforce. This has the ultimate effect of pushing women into poverty and aggravating the gender wage gap in Cuba further, with Cuban women less likely to find work or have opportunities for promotion or advancement. 

How is the Cuban Government Addressing the Gender Wage Gap?

The Cuban government has taken big strides to eradicate the gender wage gap by supporting the position of women in Cuban society and within the economy. In 2019, a new Constitution was ratified, reiterating the Cuban government’s commitment to gender wage equality by outlawing discrimination based on a variety of categories, including gender. Article 43 of the Constitution promises “equal rights [between men and women] in the economic, political, cultural, occupational, social and familial domains,” clearly stating their desire to reduce and eventually abolish the wage gap. 

The Cuban Constitution promises a wide range of affirmative action that seeks to foster the protection of women in the workplace, guaranteeing at least 18 weeks of paid maternity leave and providing opportunities for temporary, flexible work that can easily work around childcare needs. Ultimately, this means that women are less likely to see disparity in their pay compared to men, even if they choose to be mothers. 

However, some have argued that the Cuban government’s actions have been largely symbolic, and while they have guaranteed formal legal equality between Cuban men and women, these policies largely do not affect the Cuban gender wage gap.

A Way Forward

Regardless of the efficacy of government programs in reducing the gender wage gap in Cuba, there has still been progress in fostering economic equality between men and women. Various nongovernmental organizations have emerged with the goal of training women in entrepreneurship and various other skills helpful in business. 

A prime example of this is the Mentoras Creativas initiative. Founded in 2021, it assists women trying to join the workforce by placing them in a network of like-minded individuals, providing training in a variety of skills in workshops and promoting female empowerment across the country. This not only helps get more women into the workforce but also improves social attitudes and acceptance of women in the workplace, with the ultimate goal of reducing the gender wage gap. The initiative began with the goal of helping 20 women, but received more than 120 applications, incentivizing the program to operate ‘masterclasses’ to accommodate the overflow applicants.  

– Tom Lowe
Photo: Flickr