Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WOMEN IN PERU
Women can vote and own property, but the situation remains challenging in a country that
is informally ruled by machismo. The female illiteracy rate of more than 16% is almost
three times that of men. In addition, women, on average, make only 56 cents to every dollar
a man earns. That said, the overall situation has improved. A number of laws barring do-
mestic violence and sexual assault have been passed, and women now make up 28% of the
country's professional class (senior officials, managers and legislators) and almost a third
of the congress.
