Acquired assets under threat: Javier Milei, the new Argentine president, is causing concern
The election of Javier Milei as head of Argentina has caused great concern within Argentine society, particularly among women. The new president campaigned on a platform restricting women’s rights, including promising to repeal the law legalizing abortion and abolish the Ministry of Women.
This electoral victory raises fears about a setback in gains in women’s rights in a country which has been a fervent defender of feminism in the region. Javier Milei, who rose to prominence on the Argentine political scene only two years ago, is determined to break with the status quo and implement restrictive measures for Argentine women.
One of his main promises is to repeal the abortion law, which was legalized in December 2020 in Argentina. He considers abortion to be an “assassination aggravated by ascendancy” and has announced his intention to organize a referendum to remove this law if the “no” to abortion wins. This position provokes strong reactions from the “green scarves”, the Argentine activists who symbolized the fight for the right to abortion by wearing scarves of this color.
In addition to abortion, Javier Milei also questions sex education in schools, which he considers “indoctrination of gender ideology”. However, this law on comprehensive sex education has demonstrated its effectiveness since its adoption in 2006. It helps to fight against violence against women by challenging gender stereotypes and inequalities.
Regarding salary inequalities between women and men, Javier Milei denies their existence. He claims that if women earned less than men, businesses would be filled with women, because businesses are out to make money. However, statistics clearly show that Argentine women earn on average 26.3% less than men.
Javier Milei’s victory raises serious concerns about a possible decline in human rights in Argentina, particularly those of women. Argentina’s feminist activists are determined to confront these challenges and defend hard-won gains in the fight for gender equality.