PERCEPTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT: COSTA RICAN POLICY INITIATIVES AND PATHWAYS TO WOMEN'S SOCIOECONOMIC ACCESSIBILITY

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine women's perceptions of socioeconomic accessibility in Costa Rica. The study applies Amartya Sen's model of "development as freedom" as the theological foundation for understanding women's position in the developmental process in Costa Rica. Sen's approach focuses on the freedom and capability to fully participate in all social and economic realms of society. The collected research for this study compares the gender developmental policies in Costa Rica with the perceptions women have on their socioeconomic status; furthermore, this study evaluates the policies and perceptions based on Amartya Sen's theory. The data represents qualitatively based interviews and quantitative survey collection. The surveys and interviews were collected in the north of Costa Rica from 217 women in numerous institutions such as Instituto Nacional de Apredizaje, Universidad Tacnica Nacional, Asociacan de Mujeres Ambientalistas, Instituto Tecnolagico, Mixto de Ayuda Social, and Hotel Aboral. The data exemplifies the socioeconomic perceptions from women ages 18-70 and from all educational backgrounds.

Questions are centered on gendered socioeconomics, such as social opportunities, decision-making power, access to economic markets and facilities, and labor and education accessibility. Beginning with Costa Rican history and developmental policies, this paper analyzes the influences on women's socioeconomic development in Costa Rica. Issues such as job availability, wage equality, and social mobility are further investigated. Findings indicated that women experience constraints to full socioeconomic accessibility. These findings were communicated through the women perceiving barriers to education, wage equality and job opportunities. The results also illustrated that women do not experience full freedom, fairness or accessibility in society. Although Costa Rica has initiated many gender progressive policies, there are deficits in successful implementation of these policies. In accordance with Sen's development as freedom theory, the social and economic arrangements are not fully accessible or available for numerous reasons in Costa Rica.