Sure I'd like to arrive home sit down and have it all done, but I have to do it all. At the age of 42, Patricia decided to return to work joining many other working mothers. In Chile today almost 38 per cent of the work force is made up of women compared to 25 per cent 20 years ago. The job opportunities, especially white collar jobs have come from the boom in the country's economy, but the Minister for Employment's equal opportunity adviser, Veronica Oxman, says despite the changes in the make up of the work force, machismo is entrenched. She says even at the highest levels of government, men's attitudes are appalling.
Women are very nice but they're quite stupid.
But changes are taking place in Chile. Patricia's husband is taking out time from his work as a taxi driver to help take their sick son to the doctor, something that would never have happened a decade ago. However the bank, which knows Patricia's son has a leukaemia like illness, hasn't made life any easier for her. They have been cooperative, but only for a small part. They've told me not to worry as long as my productivity doesn't drop.