Mujer y Mercado Laboral en República Dominicana: un panorama de exclusión

Changes in the Dominican economy from an agricultural orientation to a
service-oriented economic model, centered in free trade zones and in tourism,
have unquestionably transformed the labor market in many ways. This article
focuses on the impact these changes have had on the incorporation of women
into the labor market, arguing that, despite its promises, the new economy has
integrated women in ways that have enhanced the discrimination they face
in the work force and the difficulty of finding good, decent work. The author
argues that women’s continued discrimination in the work force is a result
of the type of jobs women have, when compared to men, their wages, and the
possibility of promotion. The article establishes that although Dominican
women are more educated than men, their options in the labor market are
worse and not related to their productive capacity. The article offers some
ideas for how state policies can improve women’s participation in the labor
force.