Affirmative Action Programs for Women: Can this Treatment be Considered as Direct Discrimination?

Abstract

History has shown that gender equality has not been a peaceful issue, but has had to forge a long way to try to equalize rights between men and women in order to consecrate the place that women deserve in our society. One of the most notable efforts worldwide are positive or affirmative actions taken by States, aimed at creating equal opportunities for women in a temporary space until such conduct defines the daily life of a society. Ecuador, since the promulgation of the 1998 Constitution to the consolidated newer 2008 Constitution efforts, has established mechanisms of inclusion that have allowed female gender adopt an almost equal role to male gender in areas such as politics. However, it is of paramount importance to understand the scope and the elements of affirmative actions to elucidate the benefactors effects in the struggle to achieve real gender equality and refute the misconceptions that categorized them as discriminatory measures.