How are women and girls treated in Panama?

​Panamá has always been a leader in the American continent, and the world.  Thus, women have a very important role in every single development and growth.

 

There are many ways to describe Panamanian women.  Let´s start by saying visitors always say Panamanian women are beautiful, as are many Latin American women.  There is reason to believe this is true is because Panamanian women take very good care of themselves, not to mention...

​Panamá has always been a leader in the American continent, and the world.  Thus, women have a very important role in every single development and growth.

 

There are many ways to describe Panamanian women.  Let´s start by saying visitors always say Panamanian women are beautiful, as are many Latin American women.  There is reason to believe this is true is because Panamanian women take very good care of themselves, not to mention their dress code and makeup at all times.

 

For example, you will always see Panamanian women dress accordingly for every occasion, not simply casually or in sneakers, but in high heels.  For a trip to the mall, movie or restaurant, they always wear a nice dress, or pant suit, high heels or nice sandals.

 

Panamanian women are very much aware of spas and beauty parlors.  They always have manicures, even the maids.  Maids come well dressed to the houses in which they work, and change into more comfortable working attire.  Of course, they wear nice shorts and jeans whenever is necessary.

 

Now, the women in the city are very different from the “interior” (country).  But no matter where they come from, they are usually excellent wives and take motherhood very seriously.  In the city, is very common for Panamanian women to have maids, drivers and gardeners.

 

Panamanian husbands always try to minimize the work for their wives, even though in these days, women have demanding working hours, like everywhere else.

 

On the weekends and holidays, usually families go to their country houses.  Unfortunately, with the thousands of new residents from abroad, things are much more expensive now than years ago.

 

Now, how are women usually treated in general?  Like queens (with some exceptions that you just can´t avoid, for example, with an abusive husband).  To make an example:  If a woman is in the street, with any problem, there is always somebody to help.  If her car breaks down, a courteous man always stops to help. If a lady is a visitor, they always try to accommodate her in her own language, or with any need. If a lady goes to the “interior,” people there are so friendly that will make her feel at home, with few exceptions. If a woman has to walk into a dark parking lot, there is always a security guard that offers her help, or, if she has heavy bags, there is always a man there to help her. And, there are still gentlemen who give their seats to any women, no matter what age, or pulls out the chair in a restaurant for her to sit down.

 

In addition, at retirement age, women are privileged to have all discounts at age 55, while men have to wait until age 60.

 

And if you go to the native (Indian) villages, women are very well taken care of, especially the older ones, whose wisdom are always taken in consideration.

 

(Woman using the business facilities in a hotel, Panama City, Panama , pictured.)

In Panama, women and girls are placed on a pedestal; up to a degree. It's good to take into account the country's Spanish - and therefore Catholic - heritage. In Spain, it's common to encounter ladies with names such as "Purisima" (the purest) and "Inmaculada" (immaculate). Even names such as Mercedes (as in Benz) or Dolores (usually turned into Lolita, like in Nabokov's novel) come straight from the Virgin Mary: María de las Mercedes (our Lady of Mercy) and...

In Panama, women and girls are placed on a pedestal; up to a degree. It's good to take into account the country's Spanish - and therefore Catholic - heritage. In Spain, it's common to encounter ladies with names such as "Purisima" (the purest) and "Inmaculada" (immaculate). Even names such as Mercedes (as in Benz) or Dolores (usually turned into Lolita, like in Nabokov's novel) come straight from the Virgin Mary: María de las Mercedes (our Lady of Mercy) and María de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). This is obviously a very high standard, and while brides are expected to marry in virginal condition, the grooms substantially less so. Parents generally encourage their sons to be promiscuous and their daughters chaste. There is currently a heated debate in Panama about Law 61 that attempts to provide the basis for sexual education in schools. While it's crucial to preserve children's innocence, it comes at the cost of 11,000 teenage pregnancies each year.

 

"Machismo" is a Spanish word, which has no equivalent in English. The Latin culture is rooted in a traditionally male-dominated environment. Nonetheless, like most everywhere in the world, women and girls are making inroads, mostly through increased access to education. Panama has already had a female president, Mireya Moscoso. In the current government, the vice president and prime minister of Foreign Affairs Isabel de Saint Malo is representing her country with aplomb and elegance. The chief engineer in charge of the Canal's widening, is also a lady: Ilya de Marotta, in charge of that 5.5 billion dollar project. And those are only a few examples that come to mind. Generally speaking, girls are progressing faster than their counterparts in other Latin American countries, possibly due to Panama's enviable position as a bridge between cultures.

 

(Pictured: Prime Minister of Panama, Isabel de Saint Malo.)

It’s interesting because how women and girls are treated is a big question right here in the USA, you know, with FOX News and the many situations that come up in the workplace between men and women, including inequality of pay.

 

I do not work in a workplace on a regular basis in Panama, and in real estate there is no inequality of pay between men and women; it’s a standard fee for working in real estate.  In Panama, being a Latin American...

It’s interesting because how women and girls are treated is a big question right here in the USA, you know, with FOX News and the many situations that come up in the workplace between men and women, including inequality of pay.

 

I do not work in a workplace on a regular basis in Panama, and in real estate there is no inequality of pay between men and women; it’s a standard fee for working in real estate.  In Panama, being a Latin American country, there certainly is an amount of inequality about men and women. Panama is basically a male dominated society. So you really do have to expect that in Panama it is not going to be better than in the States in terms of the workplace. It could be the equivalent or less. Women have to be prepared for that in the workplace in general.

 

There are ways to confront this that conform to the society in which you’re working. I would suggest that you handle it in a similar manner as you might in the States or any western country other than Latin American country where you would have to be very aware of the fact that basically men are in control in the workplace. In Latin American culture women are definitely considered for the most part in a lesser position than men and that harassment of a sexual nature is going to be as obvious there if not more so than in the States. An efficient way to handle it is to rely on your skills and maturity and expertise in dealing with men in the workplace.

 

On the other hand, on a personal level other than in the workplace, there is a great deal of cordiality and respect for women in general in Latin cultures. Out of the workplace you will experience no harassment, maybe even less so than in the USA. Because of that level of respect for women, for mothers, for grandmothers, for family situations and in general, you won’t find any harassment in the streets of Panama City. I never have.

 

When it comes to the level inequality in pay, which certainly applies to the entire world and the issues that are being fought in the USA now very prevalently will certainly resonate in many parts of the world, including in Panama, especially as it becomes an international city and an international workplace.

 

The interesting thing is that the US itself ranks quite low in terms of maternal healthcare and I believe that Panama ranks higher.  Healthcare is excellent in Panama. It’s a small country servicing less people than the USA, of which 50% are women, and I have never experienced any problem. Panama probably offers greater healthcare for women in general than the USA. There is a great distinction between living in a very large First World country and living in a smaller Second World country such as Panama, which is reaching toward first level international status. This puts Panama in a very interesting place and the best place for foreigners, international workers, and women in particular. 

 

(Image on Latino Fox News, pictured.)

My granddaughters go to private schools here in Panama. Both private and public schools have uniforms, boys and girls go together, and they’re well treated. I don’t see a lot of hazing in any of the schools- private and non-private. 

 

The women and girls in Panama are treated very, very respectfully. You’ll run in to some trouble sometimes here and there, but waiters, bankers, and hotel people are very respectful to foreigners and...

My granddaughters go to private schools here in Panama. Both private and public schools have uniforms, boys and girls go together, and they’re well treated. I don’t see a lot of hazing in any of the schools- private and non-private. 

 

The women and girls in Panama are treated very, very respectfully. You’ll run in to some trouble sometimes here and there, but waiters, bankers, and hotel people are very respectful to foreigners and mostly to the women. They don’t play kind to someone who’s insulting or treating a wife badly in front of them. It’s a different culture. They like that the women are respected. 

 

Women have the same opportunities in Panama and in the United States- they go out and push. I don’t think that there are more opportunities in Miami or in New York City than in a city (Panama City) of one million people. There must be a lot more here in Panama. Our salaries are not going to be near what a banker, or a sub general manager in a bank would make in the US. You’d probably make a lot more as a female in a US bank than as a female in a Panamanian bank. In two of the banks that I go to, however, the top executive is a woman who makes a lot of money.

 

(High school class in Panama, pictured.)

In Panama, women are treated well, whether at work or within families. Women in Panama do not have the same working environments as men in Panama, but women are treated very professionally. Here in Panama, women go to university and acquire top positions in companies.

 

It’s not difficult for women to be successful in business in Panama, but it’s complicated. Here in Panama we have a saying that women sometimes do magic. That means we women can...

In Panama, women are treated well, whether at work or within families. Women in Panama do not have the same working environments as men in Panama, but women are treated very professionally. Here in Panama, women go to university and acquire top positions in companies.

 

It’s not difficult for women to be successful in business in Panama, but it’s complicated. Here in Panama we have a saying that women sometimes do magic. That means we women can deal with matters at home and at the office, and we still manage to get things done. 

 

There’s a special law here in Panama that protects women. As an example, we have the mandatory paid maternity leave where women get the time they need after giving birth. Employers are mandated by law to grant women the necessary time they need for a maternity leave which is then paid by their Social Security.

 

In general, mothers in Panama are given a special place. We Panamanians are very appreciative of our mothers. In fact, in the Latin culture, when people get married, the stronger relationship is usually with the wife’s family than the husband’s family. It’s common for people here in Panama to be closer to the wife or mother’s family.

 

(International Women's Day greeting from Alto Boquete Condominums, Boquete, Panama , pictured.)