Unmasking pregnancy discrimination in Mexico. A longitudinal analysis of a national survey

Abstract

This article examines pregnancy discrimination in the workplace in Mexico using a population-based sample, the National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH, initials in Spanish). The prevalence of this type of discrimination, its associated factors and its evolution over a recent 10-year period (2011−2021) are analyzed using the 2016 and 2021 sets of survey data. Despite having a regulatory framework that protects women's rights, pregnancy discrimination persists in various labor sectors, such as factories and the public sector. Our study reveals that overtly (or admittedly) pregnant women, and those suspected of being or becoming pregnant, face challenges in the workplace (before, during and after pregnancy), reflecting deeply ingrained and normalized gender inequalities.

Pregnancy discrimination affects a significant number of working women in Mexico (10.4 % for the period 2016–2021, and 5.5 % in the last year of that period). The prevalence has been decreasing. On average, the percentage of women experiencing pregnancy discrimination decreased by 25.2 %, between 2016 and 2021. Women employed at certain types of work facilities, such as factories and maquiladoras, and health service institutions are at a higher risk of experiencing pregnancy discrimination. The article highlights the significance of addressing pregnancy discrimination in Mexico and explains how a deeper understanding of this problem can promote gender equality and improve the well-being of women in the workplace.