RIGHT TO WORK FROM THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE: THE CASE OF GENDER VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IN ECUADOR, ITS TECHNIQUES AND APPLICATIONS

Authors

  • Mera-Vera Idalina Doraliza Facultad de Posgrado, Maestría en Derecho Laboral. Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Portoviejo, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2051-6172
  • Navarro-Cejas Mercedes Facultad de Posgrado. Facultad de Ciencias Humanísticas y Sociales Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Centro de Atención Integral para la Igualdad de Género y la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva. Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí. Portoviejo, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4377-7250

Keywords:

right to work, gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, equality, research

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/yc.v9i17.0709

Abstract

This article analyzes the right to work from a gender perspective, focusing on manifestations of gender-based violence and discrimination in the Ecuadorian labor context. Using a qualitative methodology with a case-type design, the study examined the narratives of ten women workers and the assessments of subject-matter experts, revealing how structural violence and discriminatory practices directly undermine the effective exercise of this fundamental right. Techniques such as document analysis, interviews, material records, focus groups, and structured surveys were employed, combining analytical-synthetic, inductive-deductive, and documentary analysis methods. Although the Ecuadorian Constitution guarantees equality and prohibits discrimination, the findings expose a significant gap between the legal framework and the actual conditions of working life. Informality, weak institutional structures, labor precariousness, and the social normalization of gender-based violence emerge as factors that negatively affect emotional health, productivity, and access to effective reporting mechanisms. The study shows that legal provisions alone are insufficient without political will, institutional follow-up, and educational processes in gender equality. From a critical and reflective approach, the article proposes the coherent articulation of legislation, public policy, and concrete labor conditions to ensure the right to work in environments free from violence and gender discrimination. This reinforces the need to move toward fair, inclusive, and transformative labor relations that recognize and address the structural inequalities faced by women in the Ecuadorian workplace.

Keywords: right to work, gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, equality, research.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Acale Sánchez, M., Markovic, I., & Strand, S. (2023). Gender competent criminal law. In Gender-Competent Legal Education (pp. 429-465). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Agbaje, O. S., Arua, C. K., Umeifekwem, J. E., Umoke, P. C. I., Igbokwe, C. C., Iwuagwu, T. E., ... & Obande-Ogbuinya, E. N. (2021). Workplace gender-based violence and associated factors among university women in Enugu, South-East Nigeria: an institutional-based cross-sectional study. BMC women's health, 21, 1-20.

Allan, B. A., Autin, K. L., & Wilkins-Yel, K. G. (2021). Precarious work in the 21st century: A psychological perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 126, 103491.

Ayaz, B., Dozois, G., Baumann, A. L., Fuseini, A., & Nelson, S. (2024). Perpetrators of gender-based workplace violence amongst nurses and physicians–A scoping review of the literature. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(9), e0003646.

Bauger, E. S. (2021). Perspectiva de género, derechos humanos y feminismos jurídicos en la enseñanza del Derecho Internacional Privado. Anales de la Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, (51), 090-090.

Bernardino, M. D. (2021). Digitalización y empleo: retos del futuro del trabajo desde una perspectiva de género. Revista Estudios Jurídicos. Segunda Época, (21), e6761-e6761.

Bonilla, H. L. M., Carrera, E. C. R., & Soria, Y. L. (2022). Derechos laborales de las mujeres embarazadas y lactantes en Ecuador ante el despido intempestivo. Sociedad & Tecnología, 5(S1), 223-236.

Bravo, G., Fuentes-Garcia, A., Arriagada, M., & Castellucci, H. (2024). Methodological considerations in the study of perceived discrimination at work and its association with workers health and occupational outcomes: A scoping review. Medwave, 24(4), e2910-e2910.

Corlett, S., Di Marco, D., Munduate, L., & Arenas, A. (2023). Manifestations and reinforcement of heteronormativity in the workplace: a systematic scoping review. Journal of Homosexuality, 70(12), 2714-2740.

Corral-Calderón, G. X., Gómez-Rodríguez, L., & Córdova-Díaz, M. J. (2024). Garantías laborales para mujeres embarazadas: perspectiva de género y protección reforzada desde la formación universitaria. Revista Mexicana de Investigación e Intervención Educativa, 3(1), 58-65.

Cuesta, H. A. (2023). La formación en los nuevos yacimientos de empleo (empleos digitales, verdes) con especial atención a la perspectiva de género. Lan Harremanak. Revista de Relaciones Laborales, (49).

Huaca, C. G. P., & Sánchez, X. M. T. (2019). Evolución normativa del derecho de la mujer a una vida libre de violencia en Ecuador. Boletín Redipe, 8(8), 127-143.

Kantola, J., & Lombardo, E. (2021). Strategies of right populists in opposing gender equality in a polarized European Parliament. International Political Science Review, 42(5), 565-579.

Kovacevic, L. (2023). Gender perspective of development of labour law. In Gender perspectives in private law (pp. 105-127). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

López, M. (2021). Métodos de investigación en ciencias sociales: una guía práctica para estudiantes. Editorial Académica, Ciudad de Publicación.

Lyu, X., & Fan, Y. (2022). Research on the relationship of work family conflict, work engagement and job crafting: A gender perspective. Current Psychology, 41(4), 1767-1777.

Madorin, S., & Jacinto, S. (2023). Achieving gender equality through paid and unpaid work: An exploration of mothers’ perspectives on work. Social Sciences, 12(4), 218.

Magnavita, N., Filon, F. L., Giorgi, G., Meraglia, I., & Chirico, F. (2024). Assessing workplace violence: methodological considerations. La Medicina del lavoro, 115(1), e2024003.

Maji, S., Yadav, N., & Gupta, P. (2024). LGBTQ+ in workplace: a systematic review and reconsideration. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 43(2), 313-360.

Muñoz Subía, K. B., & Pangol Lascano, A. M. (2021). Igualdad y no discriminación de la mujer en el ámbito laboral ecuatoriano. Revista Universidad y Sociedad, 13(3), 222-232.

Nelson, S., Ayaz, B., Baumann, A. L., & Dozois, G. (2024). A gender-based review of workplace violence amongst the global health workforce—A scoping review of the literature. PLOS global public health, 4(7), e0003336.

Noguera, R. M. (2021). La perspectiva de género y el Derecho del Trabajo:¿ una hermenéutica en construcción o algo más?. LABOS Revista de Derecho del Trabajo y Protección Social, 2(2), 83-98.

Ochoa, M. E. O., & Guevara, G. M. (2020). La mujer embarazada y sus derechos laborales en Ecuador. Dilemas contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores.

Oña Muso, M. J. (2016). El Régimen Internacional del Trabajo, no discriminación por maternidad y protección del empleo en el Ecuador.

Opoku, E. K., Wimalasena, L., & Sitko, R. (2024). Sexism and workplace interpersonal mistreatment in hospitality and tourism industry: A critical systematic literature review. Tourism Management Perspectives, 53, 101285.

Oswald, K. (2023). Gender discrimination: an overview of historical and contemporary issues. Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies, 29(1), 1-2.

Padrón, T. G., Kovacevic, L., & Moreno, M. I. R. (2023). Labour law and gender. In Gender-competent legal education (pp. 583-630). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Peters, S. E., Dennerlein, J. T., Wagner, G. R., & Sorensen, G. (2022). Work and worker health in the post-pandemic world: a public health perspective. The Lancet Public Health, 7(2), e188-e194.

Rea Ángeles, P., Montes de Oca Zavala, V., & Pérez Guadarrama, K. (2021). Políticas de cuidado con perspectiva de género. Revista mexicana de sociología, 83(3), 547-580.

Rivas Mendoza, M. I., Afshar Jahanshahi, A., Pulido Joo, L. A., Polas, M. R. H., Paredes Izaguirre, L. A., & Espejo-Chacón, L. F. (2025). Workplace adversity and the dual impact of gender on employee intentions to leave and pursue social entrepreneurship. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration.

Roldan, C., & Stalin, F. (2022). El mobbing laboral por razón de género y la protección jurídica de los derechos de la mujer en el contexto ecuatoriano. Frónesis, 29(1).

Rosa, R., & Clavero, S. (2022). Gender equality in higher education and research. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(1), 1-7.

Sánchez Cañar, P., Uriguen Aguirre, P., & Vega Jaramillo, F. (2021). Discriminación y desigualdad salarial. Exploración de brechas por género en Ecuador. Revista Científica y Tecnológica UPSE (RCTU), 8(1), 48-55.

Sánchez, C. L., García, C. V., & Japa, J. M. S. (2022). Interseccionalidad: La discriminación múltiple desde una perspectiva de género. Revista Crítica de la Historia de las Relaciones Laborales y de la Política Social, (14), 71-81.

Sánchez, M. & Pérez, L. (2023). Enfoque cualitativo en el estudio de la violencia contra la mujer: comprensión de patrones y paradigmas subyacentes. Revista de Investigación Social, 11(2), 34-49.

Tabassum, N., & Nayak, B. S. (2021). Gender stereotypes and their impact on women’s career progressions from a managerial perspective. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, 10(2), 192-208.

Teixeira, M. B. M., Galvão, L. L. D. C., Mota-Santos, C. M., & Carmo, L. J. O. (2021). Women and work: film analysis of Most Beautiful Thing. Revista de Gestão, 28(1), 66-83.

Tobar Cid, C. (2023). Perspectiva de género-femenino-en el Derecho penal: revisión de leyes especiales contra la discriminación de las mujeres. Política criminal, 18(35), 157-186.

Ugowe, D. (2022). Gender-based Violence: Its Prevalence, Forms, Causes and Consequences. ScienceOpen Preprints.

Upadhyay, A. K., Khandelwal, K., Iyengar, J., & Panda, G. (2023). Role of gender sensitisation training in combating gender-based bullying, inequality, and violence. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3), 2266615.

Vallellano, M. D., Mora-Quiñones, N. G., & Fajardo-Fernández, R. (2025). Employment discrimination of the LGTBIQ+ migrant population: a scoping review. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.

Weatherall, R. (2022). Theorising domestic violence and work: where are we now and where to next? Labour and Industry, 32(4), 429-442.

Weatherall, R., Gavin, M., & Thorburn, N. (2021). Safeguarding women at work? Lessons from Aotearoa New Zealand on effectively implementing domestic violence policies. Journal of industrial relations, 63(4), 568-590.

Wilcox, T., Greenwood, M., Pullen, A., O’Leary Kelly, A., & Jones, D. (2021). Interfaces of domestic violence and organization: Gendered violence and inequality. Gender, Work & Organization, 28(2), 701-721.

Published

2025-07-10

How to Cite

Mera-Vera, I. D., & Navarro-Cejas, M. (2025). RIGHT TO WORK FROM THE GENDER PERSPECTIVE: THE CASE OF GENDER VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT IN ECUADOR, ITS TECHNIQUES AND APPLICATIONS. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA MULTIDISCIPLINARIA ARBITRADA YACHASUN - ISSN: 2697-3456, 9(17), 530–554. Retrieved from https://www.editorialibkn.com/index.php/Yachasun/article/view/733