How Aging Societies Are Putting Greater Pressure on Women
By
Miranda Mazariegos
Care for the elderly is falling disproportionately to women, affecting careers and family planning.
This article is adapted from AQ’s special report on Latin America’s demographic transformation Every weekend, Mariel Luna, a doctor in social sciences, travels for two hours to visit her parents in Mérida, Yucatán, where she keeps them company, helps them with the household chores, and looks after their pets. She also juggles a chronic illness, two jobs, and the dream of one day joining Mexico’s National System of Researchers. Children, she said, are not part of her plan. “I’m very objective with my situation: Having a child is too expensive, at least for the...
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