In Latin America, we constantly talk about economic growth, investment, and productivity. But we rarely acknowledge clearly enough who truly supports much of the social and economic stability of our communities: mothers.
The Latin American mother not only cares for and supports her family, but also works, manages, solves problems, and holds millions of families together, even in difficult circumstances. In many cases, she is both an emotional support system and the primary source of income. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), more than 40% of households in Latin America have a woman as the primary economic provider. And in Mexico, unpaid domestic and care work, primarily performed by women, represents nearly 24% of the national GDP, according to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography).
In other words, a huge portion of the economy relies on the work of women, which is often not even reflected in traditional statistics.
Women continue to face lower incomes, heavier caregiving burdens, and fewer job opportunities. Motherhood remains a factor of labor inequality in many contexts.
That's why Mother's Day cannot be limited to emotional recognition. Of course, it's important to celebrate and express gratitude. But we must also build economic and social models that strengthen the autonomy and opportunities for women.
And that's where Nuevo León has a historic opportunity. Because what characterizes our region is...
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Mayor Mijes Llovera highlights the role of women (Andrés Mijes Llovera).
In Latin America, we constantly talk about economic growth, investment, and productivity. But we rarely acknowledge clearly enough who truly supports much of the social and economic stability of our communities: mothers. The Latin American mother not only cares for and supports her family. She also works, manages, solves problems, and holds together millions of families, even in difficult circumstances. In many cases, she is both an emotional support system and the primary source of income. According to the CEPAL (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), more than 40% of households in Latin America have a woman as the main economic provider. And in Mexico, unpaid domestic and care work, primarily performed by women, represents nearly 24% of the national GDP, according to the INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography). In other words, a huge part of the economy relies on work performed by women, which is often not even reflected in traditional statistics. Women continue to face lower incomes, heavier caregiving burdens, and fewer job opportunities. Motherhood continues to be a factor of labor inequality in many contexts. That is why Mother's Day cannot be limited to emotional recognition. Of course, we must celebrate and express gratitude. But we must also build economic and social models that strengthen the autonomy and opportunities of women. And Nuevo León has a historic opportunity to do so. Because what characterizes our region is its ability to produce, compete, and grow the economy. The next step is to ensure that this growth reaches women and working mothers more strongly. It is important to say that social industrialism has a lot to offer to modern women. Because when economic growth is accompanied by job security, community, and a sense of humanity, women find better conditions to fully develop. Economist Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize in Economics 2023, has pointed out that one of the great contemporary challenges is to build economies capable of integrating productivity and flexibility without penalizing motherhood. This is where Northern Social Capitalism and the "Growth with Justice" initiative promoted by the President of Mexico, Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, can engage with great force. Because a strong economy is only sustainable when it generates shared opportunities and strengthens families. This was one of the principles of the historical regional industrialism. Don Eugenio Garza Sada maintained that "the best business is to provide jobs." Behind that phrase was a deeply human vision of development: understanding that a company also provides stability, dignity, and a future for families. This means promoting more accessible daycare centers; expanding school hours and sports and cultural spaces for girls and boys; strengthening public transportation and safety on streets and routes; opening more opportunities for women in technology, logistics, and manufacturing industries; facilitating credit and property security for working mothers; and building safer and more united communities. It also means understanding something fundamental: the new industrial economy of northern Mexico needs more female talent. Nearshoring and industrial relocation are opening historic opportunities in high-paying and highly specialized sectors. It would be a mistake to exclude millions of women from this productive transformation. Therefore, technical, digital, and university training for women must become a strategic priority. This is one of the great challenges of our time: to achieve a strong economy that also strengthens families. This is where the Northern 4T (Fourth Transformation) seeks to build balance. With one hand promoting investment, employment, and innovation. And with the other hand, transforming that growth into security, community, and real opportunities for mothers. Because when a mother has support and opportunities, all of society truly advances, and that is a priority for talking about a truly just society.
*The author is the Mayor of the Municipality of General Escobedo in Nuevo León, Mexico, and President of the Metropolitan Coordination Table, Society, and Government in the Metropolitan Area of that state of the Mexican Republic.