Women in Venezuela: another dimension of the glass ceiling ? Women in Venezuela: another dimension of the glass ceiling ? Felícitas Kort Professor of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Postgraduate Training in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Central University of Venezuela Felícitas Kort Professor of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy Postgraduate Training in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Central University of Venezuela

THE VENEZUELAN FAMILY OF LOW ECONOMIC INCOME THE VENEZUELAN FAMILY OF LOW ECONOMIC INCOME Binomial relationship mother-child Woman-without-a-man Male is seen as a son, not as a man A woman dismisses her partner, when she has one _______________ *Moreno, A. (1997) La familia popular venezolana Binomial relationship mother-child Woman-without-a-man Male is seen as a son, not as a man A woman dismisses her partner, when she has one _______________ *Moreno, A. (1997) La familia popular venezolana

THE VENEZUELAN FAMILY OF LOW ECONOMIC INCOME THE VENEZUELAN FAMILY OF LOW ECONOMIC INCOME Women are the most important figure of the venezuelan family She is the only voice of authority For this reason they are put in charge to lead the “barrios” Women are the most important figure of the venezuelan family She is the only voice of authority For this reason they are put in charge to lead the “barrios”

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GENDER: MEN´S ROLES A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GENDER: MEN´S ROLES A man as an individual is not understood. He relates-to-the other in an irrational and emotive relationship “Out to Kill” who act violent behavior are recoverable if they had a mother, but not if the bond with her is broken. Men have a bland and weak discipline, this is why institutions are weak A man as an individual is not understood. He relates-to-the other in an irrational and emotive relationship “Out to Kill” who act violent behavior are recoverable if they had a mother, but not if the bond with her is broken. Men have a bland and weak discipline, this is why institutions are weak

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GENDER: MEN´S ROLES A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GENDER: MEN´S ROLES Men are submissive to their mother A man has not a home, he visits his “mother´s house” Women in the family keep him away from his siblings. As a father he has no power. He is a weak, excluded and lonely figure. Men are submissive to their mother A man has not a home, he visits his “mother´s house” Women in the family keep him away from his siblings. As a father he has no power. He is a weak, excluded and lonely figure.

i.e. Pedro has 15 brothers and sisters, supposedly 7 of them share the same mother, but not the same father. The other 8 have the same father, but not the same mother. From his own father and mother he is an only child, yet this is not his family because they never shared together the same home.

“Our family does not exist. While we reconstruct the family, many generations will go by, therefore necessarily the State is the father” Minister of Education, 1999

THE LIFE OF FELICIA VALERA* *Moreno, A. (1988) Conicit THE LIFE OF FELICIA VALERA* *Moreno, A. (1988) Conicit Proactive towards modern technology Her body is only to bear children Perceives herself as family, not alone Violence in the relationship man-woman Conflicts are solved within the community Proactive towards modern technology Her body is only to bear children Perceives herself as family, not alone Violence in the relationship man-woman Conflicts are solved within the community

GLASS CEILING: A DEFINITION GLASS CEILING: A DEFINITION WOMEN ARE INMERSED IN PREJUDICES THAT UNABLE HER TO ASCEND HIERARCHICAL POSITIONS. LIGHT PASSES THROUGH IT, APPEARS INEXISTENT BUT IS STRONG AND RESISTENT TO ACCESS WOMEN ARE INMERSED IN PREJUDICES THAT UNABLE HER TO ASCEND HIERARCHICAL POSITIONS. LIGHT PASSES THROUGH IT, APPEARS INEXISTENT BUT IS STRONG AND RESISTENT TO ACCESS

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ( Commission on the Status of Women 2009) MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ( Commission on the Status of Women 2009) 3 PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN 3 PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN

UN -INSTRAW INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN To make a difference in women’s lives Action-oriented research from a gender perspective Create knowledge and information exchange Build sustainable, efficient institutions.

PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION Bandura, A. (1977) Self-efficacy : the exercise of control PRINCIPLE OF SELF-DETERMINATION Bandura, A. (1977) Self-efficacy : the exercise of control You have the power to modify the destiny and the environment where you live. Human beings are products of and produce their environment and their social system, thanks to the flexibility of self-determination. You have the power to modify the destiny and the environment where you live. Human beings are products of and produce their environment and their social system, thanks to the flexibility of self-determination.

SOCIAL COGNITIVE THEORY ( Bandura, 2001) Motivation, behavior and emotions are based more on how you think and perceive them rather than on what is objectively the situation.

Behavior matters: what each woman does, the way she thinks and acts determines her future. To be passive, abstain and give up generates negative consequences. Learned helplessness is the inefficacy of not knowing “how to act” Behavior matters: what each woman does, the way she thinks and acts determines her future. To be passive, abstain and give up generates negative consequences. Learned helplessness is the inefficacy of not knowing “how to act”

SPECIFIC SHORT TERM GOALS SPECIFIC SHORT TERM GOALS Inmediate incentive Stimulates efficacy. Reduces the risk of demoralizing Structured to evaluate progress Inmediate incentive Stimulates efficacy. Reduces the risk of demoralizing Structured to evaluate progress

Learning occurs by : OBSERVATION MODELLING IMITATION BASIC HUMAN NEEDS

Modulate their behavior Self-regulate emotions Plan strategies Self-reflect HUMAN BEINGS ARE ABLE TO:

SELF-EFFICACY a definition… a definition… SELF-EFFICACY a definition… a definition… It is your belief in your own capacities to organize and complete successful actions to obtain predetermined goals. It is your belief in your own capacities to organize and complete successful actions to obtain predetermined goals.

SELF-EFFICACY Where does it come from ? SELF-EFFICACY Where does it come from ? LEARNING BY IMITATION MASTERY OF EXPERIENCES SOCIAL PERSUASION PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES LEARNING BY IMITATION MASTERY OF EXPERIENCES SOCIAL PERSUASION PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES

¿What is it good for ? It influences in : The EFFORTS you make The duration of PERSISTENCE when faced with obstacles and failures Your EMOTIONS Your DECISIONS SELF-EFFICACY

“Perceived self-efficacy refers to beliefs in one´s capabilities to organize and execute courses of action required to produce a given attainment” “ …through collective action, people can improve their lives by modifying the character and practices of their social systems.” COLLECTIVE EFFICACY Bandura et. al (2000), Journal of Communication Vol 50 No.4

"It is our duty as human beings to proceed as though the limits of our capabilities do not exist” ~ Teilhard de Chardin ~