Women make up the majority of Latin America’s publishing workforce, but most remain in precarious jobs with limited access to leadership roles, especially in large publishing houses, according to new research by Cerlalc (Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe), a UNESCO-backed regional book promotion body.
Director Margarita Cuéllar, speaking at the Guayaquil International Book Fair, said women are “the force of the sector” but largely confined to subordinate positions such as editors and proofreaders, while just 37.5% of respondents from the survey carried out hold management roles. The study, covering five countries–Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, and Peru— highlighted persistent glass ceilings; low pay that forces over half of women to take other jobs; and a lack of protections like maternity leave.
Cuéllar stressed that more diverse women in decision-making could transform Latin American literary catalogues, as she believes this can “modify the perspective of what is being published in an ecosystem that has been designed for men”. She urged policymakers to undertake structural reforms addressing gendered inequalities in the industry.
Compiled From: Cristina Bazán, “La realidad laboral de las mujeres en el sector editorial latinoamericano”, El Espectador, Sept. 29, 2025.