IN SEARCH OF GENDER EQUITY IN THE PORT SECTOR: SLOWLY BUT SURELY
There is no doubt that, historically, port activity and the world of ports has been predominantly male. However, the changes that have taken place in recent decades due to the evolution of production processes, automation, digitization, and commercial, marketing, administrative, community relations, trade union, government, customer and supplier activities, make the port an area in which -both men and women- can develop and grow professionally.
The key is that both can do so under equal conditions, with gender equity and with the same possibilities of access to all operational, administrative and decision-making positions.
It is true that even today, the number of women participating in the industry is much lower than that of men. However, we are facing a unique opportunity to be the true protagonists of this cultural change and to demand that governments, institutions, educational institutions and companies implement policies and plans that make a difference and leave behind sexist and inequitable practices.
I am very optimistic in this regard. I believe that we are at a historic moment, with slow but precise steps. And I would like to illustrate this with a concrete example, which has to do with the field in which I have been working as General Director of the AAPA Latin American Ports Congress (AAPA LATINO) for more than a decade. An event that brings together professionals in positions of management, direction and presidency, both ports in our region and companies in the sector.
As a global data, in the first AAPA Latin America event that I had the opportunity to coordinate back in 2007, we received 25 women out of 261 participants, that is, 9.57% of the total number of attendees. There were no women speakers in the academic program.
Fourteen years later, in 2021, we had more than 150 women, representing 25% of female participation out of 611 registered participants, and 13 speakers, including a Vice President of the Republic, a Minister of Transportation, several port presidents and executives of companies in the sector. Also, the highest authorities of the Latin American Delegation of AAPA are women.
What do I mean by this, that in recent years there have been measurable advances in this regard? Are they enough? NO. Is there still gender inequality? YES. But there are very clear signs that there is progress in the position of our gender in the port industry. And the key is, without any doubt, in professional training and in being able to have a voice and a vote where decisions are made and policies of the sector are imparted.
I am a faithful believer that achieving equity in the port sector must be a task for all of us who are part of this industry. And this task is with man and not against man. We have to understand that the best way for a true inclusion, to reach a greater personal and professional development of both genders is united, articulated, complementing our skills and talents, helping us to get the best of us, supporting each other.
There is nothing more enriching than doing it together and sharing progress.
#OrgullosamenteMAMLa #ProudlyMAMLa #AAPALatino #MujerMaritima #WomenInMaritime #ElMarNosUne #TheSeaUnitesUs #Port #Economics #Policy #Management #WomenEmpowerment #WomenSupportingWomen #Empoderamiento