I'm very proud to think that everything that I've achieved in life is a result of my personal effort and hard work, and thanks to the values and high quality education that my parents gave me. So, after saying this, you will think that I might be reluctant to accept the idea of any kind of quotas or affirmative action to help women get to top positions in corporate, public or academic world. But the latest news from Chile -and not only in Chile- is that we have only 1 per cent of women on the boards of the top listed corporations, and only 3 per cent in top level executive positions. This is really embarrassing for a country that is way ahead of the rest of the region in democracy, good governance and economic growth, and that had recently its first women President, Michelle Bachelet, now serving in United Nations in ONU Women.
What happens? Men say that to be on boards and top level positions you need experience...and that there are few women with that experience...But how can you have that experience if, in the first place, nobody gives you the opportunity? It's a fact that women in business and politics generally improve the financial results and the work environment for the employees. It's because of the fact that we represent half of the world, that we are now getting ahead in studies, because we tend to commit more, and because we are natural negotiators and multitaskers, skills highly needed in the new economy, to talk only of a few advantages.
The point then is why the "one percent issue" happens. If it's not for a rational or logic cause, then its because of cultural discriminations against women. Some people -especially men- think that machismo is over, and that the word is for old fashion feminists, but seeing these numbers, specially in Latin America, you see that machismo is alive, and pretty much so.
That's why even if it's not the ideal solution, we have to begin to think seriously about quotas, not only in Chile but in all the countries that don't have them. Otherwise, we will have to wait decades to see real change. And in the 21 century that is not an option.