2021 TIME 100 NEXT: Mercedes D'Alessandro

[sandensea]

Pandemic-related job losses have hit women harder than men. But in Argentina, economist Mercedes D’Alessandro is determined to soften the blow that this period poses for gender equality in the workplace.

After five years of analyzing the subject through her media outlet Economía Femini(s)ta, in 2020, D’Alessandro, 43, became the Argentine government’s first ever National Director of Gender, Equality and Economy - a post created by the center-left Alberto Fernández administration, elected in 2019.

In September, her office published a report quantifying the economic value of unpaid care and domestic work—three-quarters of which is carried out by women in Argentina—at 15.9% of GDP (or around $56 billion in 2020), more than all other sectors.

That understanding of women’s labor underpins the 2021 national budget, targeted to support women through measures such as expanded public infrastructure for childcare and requirements for state construction contractors to employ more women.

Going forward, one of D’Alessandro’s priorities is to lengthen Argentina’s two-day state-mandated paternity leave (mothers get 90 days). But she says all economic policy in Argentina needs to account for gender.

Thanks to her, it likely will. ··· Ciara Nugent

At: https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2021/5937708/mercedes-dalessandro/

Argentina's National Director of Gender, Equality and Economy, Mercedes D’Alessandro.

Her office, which promotes gender and diversity programs in the Economy Ministry and oversees a $66 million budget, is a first in Argentina.

“It is the first time that we have a Budget with a gender perspective,” D'Alessadro pointed out.

“In the face of the crisis, women are the ones with the highest levels of unemployment, of poverty. That a budget addresses this problem, means that there are paths to resolving these issues.”

[Judi Lynn]

1. Finally, some humane attention paid to a very large part of the people, so needed, isn't it?

Such progressive, mature, intelligent solutions are finally being realized. Remarkable.

Here's hoping Alberto Fernández and his excellent administration will get all the time they want to put into law and daily life the measures needed so badly to restore value and meaning to life in Argentina for everyone, not simply those lucky at birth in very white, very wealthy families. As probably noticed, rights for women get astoundingly diminished as their economic/social placement is lowered at birth, where all social power derives, regardless of the gibberish about "upward mobility."

A progressive society allows everyone to live, not simply survive.

Hoping all the luck in the world for Argentina's new President and his administration.

[sandensea]

2. Well said, Judi. Women really are 2nd class citizens in most of Latin America (except the wealthy)

Evita Perón would've been proud of Ms. D'Alessandro, and of Gender and Diversity Minister Elizabeth Gómez Alcorta (the 1st time this cabinet post has existed in Argentina - and one of a few in the world, still).

If there's one thing Evita couldn't stand more than elitists, it was male chauvinists.

To say nothing of an elitist male chauvinist!

[Judi Lynn]

3. What could be worse than an "entitled" elitist male chauvinist? It's congenital, never outgrown,

never replaced by something more evolved.

Photos of Macri's father look like the Portrait of Dorian Gray. Terrifying. Actual proof that greed and classism and chauvinism and racism are hideous flaws in human beings. It's amazing how many like him, even women, eventually do wear their crimes so much in evidence you nearly gasp when you see them face to face. You can see some so astounding they leave you with a permanent imprint which never fades away.

That photo of Mauricio looks as if he's well on his way to become the spitting image of his dear father.

President Alberto Fernández has held the door open for real people of value to add character, honor, real advancement to the Government again, just as the people had been following before the hijacking by the hardcore fascist element which had been gathering up power for years, pursuing its own scheme to bleed Argentina dry again, and strip the people of the resources needed to overthrow them.

Is it possible they got too greedy and impatient and overplayed their hand before paralying the people severely enough?

The abortion goal would have never happened until now. The culture has benefited with the turn toward justice for women.