Percepción de las condiciones laborales en operadoras/es del transporte público en Morelia, Michoacán, México

Abstract

In this paper, the working conditions of public transport operators in the city of Morelia in Michoacan, are dealt with; however, such working conditions will not be taken as they are in reality but as they are seen by the social participants, taking mainly into account such conditions in which there is gender discrimination. The focus of the research is on the work performed by women within space-activities controlled by men. In this case, such focus is on the transportation sector, in which the participation of men is higher than that of women and in which the main activity is to be a driver. The research is limited to public transportation with a fixed route and of leased cars, that is, vans and taxis (since there were not female drivers of buses). The participants in the research are, therefore, public transport male and female drivers, who regularly operate in the city of Morelia in Michoacan.
This piece of work shows that there are well identified gender differences regarding the perceived working
conditions. Through their stories on these conditions, it is possible to see, sometimes, a struggle for the space
identified as "for men", in which women are forced to make double efforts to stay in the job. There is also some exigence of complying with the traditional female role, in which women who work in spaces for men are constantly fighting for.