During the last decade in Latin America the labour market indicators have shown a positive evolution: labour incomes have risen in the majority of countries of the region and unemployment has reduced. However, the female labour participation rate has stagnated at 53% and these indicators continue to display large gender gaps in access to opportunities and rights. The inequalities are based on a social system that reproduces stereotypes and maintains a sexual division of labour which limits the participation of women into the labour force. These structural factors represent an obstacle to overcoming poverty and inequality in terms of the attainment of women’s economic autonomy, more so if the current context of contracting growth is considered.