Alexa Turner
Women in Honduras
In this article, Alexa explores the dangers for women in Honduras.
Not many people have heard of the country Honduras. It is known for owning the Mesoamerican reef, the world’s second-largest barrier reef, having beautiful beaches...
and is the most dangerous place to live as a woman.
Many of the issues in Honduras are linked to the gangs in the country. These gangs have a chokehold on the territories they control and the people who live inside them. Human trafficking, extortion, rape and murder are all threats that many must live beside every day. Fear of breaking the ‘laws’ set by these gangs and the punishments doled out will cause people to turn a blind eye, making it harder for criminals to be put behind bars.
In 2019, there were 42 murders per 100,000 people. To put this into context, in England there were 1.2 murders per 100,000 in the same year. It had the 4th highest murder rate in 2020 in the world. With statistics like these, it is hard to be anyone living in Honduras, however, women are often targeted.
In 2019, there were 42 murders per 100,000 people. To put this into context, in England there were 1.2 murders per 100,000 in the same year. It had the 4th highest murder rate in 2020 in the world. With statistics like these, it is hard to be anyone living in Honduras, however, women are often targeted.
So why is it so dangerous for women?
Firstly, there is a culture of treating women as lesser, or as property. Many men feel like they own their girlfriends or wives, making them feel that women cannot leave without their permission. Miss Honduras 2014, Maria Jose Alvarado was shot, alongside her sister, Sofia. The reason? Sofia had danced with another man at a party, so her boyfriend, Plutarco, shot her. There were 30 witnesses, but due to Plutarco’s position as a drug dealer and his gang connections, most would not testify. The only reason Maria’s murder has been investigated at all is due to her Miss Honduras title and the worldwide recognition it brings. It would be unlikely to even have a suspect for any other woman.
This means is very little incentive for men to stop mistreating women, as many cases do not get investigated or taken to court. If someone is in an abusive relationship, especially if they are married, it is hard gain justice or to escape, as a result. Women who try to leave will do so with the knowledge that they may be beaten or killed and that, if so, it is unlikely that the person who did it will face punishment. In 98% of female killings no one is prosecuted. Men also are often the breadwinners of the family and women attempting to find jobs may be discriminated against, as women working is not common. If women do manage to become employed, they will often earn less than their male counterparts, even if they have the same experience. This can leave women trapped by financial abuse, as they simply cannot afford to leave- even if the price they have to pay is their life. A woman is killed every 23 hours in Honduras. What makes this statistic even worse is the population in the country is just 10 million.
Firstly, there is a culture of treating women as lesser, or as property. Many men feel like they own their girlfriends or wives, making them feel that women cannot leave without their permission. Miss Honduras 2014, Maria Jose Alvarado was shot, alongside her sister, Sofia. The reason? Sofia had danced with another man at a party, so her boyfriend, Plutarco, shot her. There were 30 witnesses, but due to Plutarco’s position as a drug dealer and his gang connections, most would not testify. The only reason Maria’s murder has been investigated at all is due to her Miss Honduras title and the worldwide recognition it brings. It would be unlikely to even have a suspect for any other woman.
This means is very little incentive for men to stop mistreating women, as many cases do not get investigated or taken to court. If someone is in an abusive relationship, especially if they are married, it is hard gain justice or to escape, as a result. Women who try to leave will do so with the knowledge that they may be beaten or killed and that, if so, it is unlikely that the person who did it will face punishment. In 98% of female killings no one is prosecuted. Men also are often the breadwinners of the family and women attempting to find jobs may be discriminated against, as women working is not common. If women do manage to become employed, they will often earn less than their male counterparts, even if they have the same experience. This can leave women trapped by financial abuse, as they simply cannot afford to leave- even if the price they have to pay is their life. A woman is killed every 23 hours in Honduras. What makes this statistic even worse is the population in the country is just 10 million.
However, there is some positive change within the country. The first female president, Xiomara Castro, was elected in November 2021. One area she has planned to focus on is corruption in politics within the country. She won 51% of the votes in the country, making history by gaining the largest percentage of votes. While still high, the murder rate has also gradually been decreasing. While Honduras still has very far to go, there is at least hope that the country will be able to develop and change.
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