Presentation

In recent years, care work has emerged within academic and political spheres as a "novelty," garnering significant attention from diverse perspectives. However, from the standpoint of women’s life histories, caregiving has long been a defining element of the public and private spheres in which they participate, shaping their daily routines and their processes of both collective and individual identity.

From this perspective, the social organization of care work is the product of a long historical process that has marginalized women’s contributions—the very pillars that sustain life. In Latin America, the lack of robust public policies, insufficient state investment, and the systemic vulnerability of women ensure that care tasks generally become experiences that deepen conditions of inequality.

This editorial project aims to portray, through an inter- and multidisciplinary lens, the inequities produced by the economic and social system upon the care apparatus. This issue most heavily impacts increasingly aging societies that fail to reach population replacement rates, as is the case in Costa Rica and Spain. Within this framework, the "New Readings of Central America" program of the Institute for Social Population Studies at the National University of Costa Rica and the Pedagogical University of El Salvador issued the call for papers that gave rise to this book, with the objective of broadening and deepening debates on care and gender. Furthermore, this effort is part of both universities' commitment to addressing social issues, fostering research collaboration networks, and advancing institutional internationalization.

As a result of this call, twenty-three submissions were received and evaluated through a double-blind peer-review process, resulting in the fourteen contributions presented here. This endeavor was made possible by the dedication of reviewers and editors who supported the authors throughout the process. It also reflects the significant efforts of students Maripaz González Campos, Paola Arce Cruz, María Mata Granados, and Sofía Quirós Fallas from the National University, members of the "Research Seedbed" (Semillero de investigadoras), who assisted in style editing and English translation.

The works presented here stem from diverse disciplines, employing pluralistic methodologies and varied research subjects. However, they share common ethical and political principles, seeking to make visible the contributions of people—primarily women—who sustain life in our societies.

The volume opens with María Belén García’s work, "Defeminizing care? Analysis of Programs and Proposals National Integrated Care System of Uruguay", which examines Uruguay's experience in promoting its Integrated National Care System (SNIC) since 2015. García focuses on public programs and services provided by the SNIC for people with disabilities and those over 65 with limited or no autonomy. This work is also fundamental to understanding how institutional programming articulates with family and work life. Among the most significant findings, the study confirms that despite processes of change, programs and services based on the feminization of the caregiver persist.

Catalina Ramírez Vega presents "Implications of care in work with people experiencing homelessness: Insights from TC-763 at the University of Costa Rica", offering a reflection with university students and faculty on caring for street-dwelling populations. This specific population allowed for reflection on aspects such as the bond that materializes accompaniment, care as recognition of the "other," and the avoidance of infantilization and guardianship. The university community service experience analyzed here concludes that actions can and must be developed from horizontal positions that treat people experiencing homelessness as subjects with agency.

Using a qualitative methodology, Gabriela Marzonetto presents "Gender Implications of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs in Central America. Where are We and Where are We Going?" She analyzes advancements in childcare policies in Central America and their results regarding gender relations. This study highlights the correlation between civil society participation in policy design and the proximity to transforming gender-sensitive relations.

From Argentina, the ethnographic work "“We Live in Emergency”: Care and Intersectionalities Scenarios in Post-Pandemic" Argentina by Anahi Sy, Valeria Alonso, and Mariana Isabel Lorenzetti underscores the role of social organizations in confronting the Covid-19 health emergency and the subsequent socioeconomic crisis—moments when care fell disproportionately on women. Conducted with social organizations in peri-urban neighborhoods during 2023 and 2024, the study highlights women's experiences that reveal an "ethics of care" built daily upon principles of empathy, solidarity, and reciprocity. The authors conclude that in these contexts, women recreate care scenarios daily to guarantee life in the most vulnerable territories, identifying their own limits and the need for articulation with state institutions in health and education to enhance their work and "care for the caregivers."

Continuing with creative and pluralistic methodologies, Katherine Molina Guido presents "Methodological Approach to the Study of Unpaid Domestic and Care Work Based on the Experience of Rural Women in the Communities of Las Virtudes and Calle Vargas (Turrialba-Costa Rica)" This research in a small rural Costa Rican community approaches the perceptions and meanings women attribute to care work and its impact on daily life. Using drawing techniques and activity diaries to engage six women in dialogue, the author identifies the persistence of stereotypes that naturalize care as an "innate" female capacity, alongside a persistently low male participation in these tasks.

Carolina Sánchez Hernández and Adriana Salazar Miranda provide a comparative analysis of time use in intimate partner relationships in their work, "Arroz con leche, ¿me quiero casar? Reproductive Work and Time Usage in Costarican Couples" Utilizing variables of marital status, age, and region from the 2022 National Time Use Survey (INEC), the authors find an increase in the global workload for both men and women, with a marked difference in time dedicated to these tasks between single women and those in cohabiting or marital unions. Furthermore, they indicate that power derived from sexual difference in time use manifests in sharper inequalities for certain age groups and varies by region. They conclude that the increase in women’s participation in paid labor has not eliminated traditional gender roles and hierarchies.

In the same vein of quantitative approaches, Irma Sandoval explores the proposal for an economic valuation of unpaid care work in her article, "Making Unpaid Care Work Visible: A Challenge for Today’s Society" This proposal suggests that unpaid care work is equivalent to 29.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with women contributing 68% of this value, thus making visible women’s actual contribution to the national economy.

Diego Conejo Bolaños and Marianella Castro Pérez offer "Childcare in Family Context: Parenting Practices in a Group of Costa Rican Families", analyzing the role of respectful childcare in holistic development. Using a mixed-methods approach, they demonstrate that economic tension, low educational attainment, lack of family support, and scarce state investment—combined with an imbalance in domestic responsibilities—can become conditioning factors for high stress levels in families, increasing the likelihood of negative and authoritarian control methods.

Next, Harlen Alpízar-Rojas and María Andrea Araya-Carvajal share results from their research on women in the education sector during the pandemic. Their article, "Teaching in Confinement: Perceptions and Experiences of Women Teachers in Costa Rica During the COVID-19 Pandemic" conducted in the Western Region, describes a scenario of "life capture" (captura vital), where boundaries between work and personal life dissolved. Far from a democratization of time, this phenomenon evidenced a "patriarchal restoration" that reinforced women’s subordination through their symbolic and material confinement to the home-as-office. Physical isolation also became emotional and professional isolation by eliminating spaces for collective dialogue and resistance.

Sharo Rosales Arce and Lidia María González Vega, in "Elderly Population in Costa Rica: Gender Inequialities, and Unpaid Domestic Work" analyze the contribution of persons aged 65 and older. Based on the 2022 National Time Use Survey, they highlight the persistence of the gender gap throughout the life cycle. They note that while there is a decrease in time dedicated to domestic work in the 75-85 and 85+ age groups, the gaps between men and women remain significant.

This analysis is complemented by Ana Lucía Fernández Fernández, Irma Sandoval Carvajal, Michelle Cordero Camacho and María del Rocío Peinador Roldán in "Direct Care: Insights from Time-Use Surveys in Costa Rica". Reflecting on the 2017 and 2022 surveys, they show that women still spend double the time men do on care tasks—an alarming situation in an increasingly aging society.

Also from a quantitative perspective, Alexander Chaverri-Carvajal and Mauricio Matus López present "Profiles of Dependent Elderly People and their Caregivers in Costa Rica" identifying the characteristics of dependent adults (18+) and those who care for them. Their findings indicate that the majority of both dependent persons and caregivers are in positions of socioeconomic vulnerability and lack public support.

Irma Sandoval Carvajal and María del Rocío Peinador Roldán contribute "Only Participating is not Enough! New Index to Messure the Gender Breach in Care in Costa Rica" evaluating the relevance of key time-use indicators (participation rate, social time, and effective time) for measuring gender gaps in direct care.

Finally, Ana Sofía Solano Acuña, through an ethno-historical study titled "Community, family, and other female arms: care during the reproduction of life among Ngäbe indigenous women from a socio-historical perspective" describes cultural practices and changes surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum in the Ngäbe culture of southern Costa Rica and northern Panama. This study places care within an intersectional dimension of cultural tradition and gender inequality, concluding that public policy in Costa Rica has failed to account for the cultural context of diverse environments, resulting in rhetorical discourses that fail to reflect the reality of women in every corner of the country.

To conclude, we extend our congratulations to all the authors, the data collection and processing teams, and the individuals whose stories and experiences made each of these research processes possible.

Dra. Ana Sofía Solano Acuña

Editor

Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica

Academic support

Editorial Board

Almudena García Manso, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, España.

Marisa Bordón Ojeda, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, España.

Pilar Cruz Zúñiga, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, España.

Priscilla Solano Céspedes, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Edition

Ana Sofía Solano Acuña, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Sharon Rodríguez Brenes, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Mirella Hernández Ramírez, Universidad Pedagógica, El Salvador.

Philological review

Maripaz González Campos, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Paola Arce Cruz, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Proofreading and translation into English

María Mata Granados, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Layout

Sharon Rodríguez Brenes, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

Ilustrations

Mónica Calderón Solano, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.

About authorship

María Belén García

mgarciapedrana@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6273-5780

A dedicated professional focused on human rights, gender equality, and social policy. With an academic background in children's rights and public policy, she earned her Master’s in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Salamanca in 2022, supported by a prestigious Carolina Foundation scholarship. Currently, she balances her clinical practice as a Social Worker at ASSE's 'Portal Amarillo' with her role as a Grade 2 Lecturer at FCS-Udelar. Her career is defined by her involvement in social inclusion initiatives, research on women’s rights, and educational leadership in workshops on gender-based violence. She combines extensive expertise with a profound commitment to driving social change and equality.

Catalina Ramídez Vega

catalina.ramirez@ucr.ac.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8012-3849

PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Barcelona. Master’s in Psychology with a concentration in Community Psychology from the University of Chile. Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica. Professor and researcher at the School of Psychology of the University of Costa Rica. Coordinator of the Professional Master’s Program in Community Psychology and Assistant Director of the Graduate Program in Psychology. Her areas of interest include environmental and community psychology, research in these two fields, and social outreach work providing support to people experiencing homelessness.

Gabriela Marzonetto

gabrielamarzonetto@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1299-4826

She holds a PhD in Political Science from the National University of San Martín (UNSAM, Argentina), an MA in Public Policy and Development Management from UNSAM and Georgetown University (USA), and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the National University of Cuyo (Argentina). She was a Doctoral Fellow (2014–2019) and a Postdoctoral Fellow (2020–2023) at CONICET Argentina, and a Visiting Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame (2023–2024). Her doctoral dissertation was awarded the prize for Best Graduate Thesis in Social Policies of MERCOSUR, as well as the Best Thesis in Political Science from the School of Politics and Government at UNSAM. Currently, she is a Co-chair of the Carework Network and a member of Compromiso por los Cuidados (Argentina).

Ahani Sy

anahisy@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1281-5333

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a PhD in Natural Sciences and Museum Studies from the National University of La Plata (UNLP, Argentina). She is an Independent Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), based at the Institute of Justice and Human Rights, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Community Health at the National University of Lanús (UNLa). She serves as both an undergraduate and graduate lecturer. Her research focuses on anthropology and health, specifically regarding healthcare alternatives for Indigenous peoples, socio/ethno-epidemiology, and mental health in psychiatric institutions and general hospitals from an ethnographic perspective. She has served as a consultant for UNICEF Argentina, the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, and the National Ministry of Social Development. She is also a member of the Argentine Network of Anthropology and Health (RedASA).

Mariana Isabel Lorenzetti

milorenzetti@fhycs.unam.edu.ar

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6189-535X

She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Buenos Aires (FFyL–UBA). She is a Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), based at the Institute of Social and Human Studies (Posadas, Misiones, CONICET/UNaM). She serves as the Academic Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Social Anthropology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, National University of Misiones (FHyCS-UNaM), where she is also an Adjunct Professor for the Thesis Workshop. She is the Director of the project 'Health Policies, Care, and Rights in Peri-urban Contexts of Misiones in the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic' and serves as the Coordinator of the Misiones Node for the PICTO Gender 2022-035 project. She is a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Argentine Network of Anthropology and Health (RedASA). Her research focuses on the analysis of health-illness-care processes, therapeutic itineraries, and care strategies within interethnic contexts in Misiones, Argentina.

Valeria Alonso

valeria.alonso@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5080-8986

She holds a PhD in Psychology from the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), an MA in Social Sciences and Health from FLACSO, and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). She directs research projects at the National Institute of Epidemiology in Mar del Plata (INE/ANLIS) and outreach projects at UNMdP, where she also serves as a professor. She is the Principal Investigator for the PICTO Gender 2022-035 project (Agencia I+D+i, Argentina) and coordinates the Sociocultural Epidemiology area at INE/ANLIS. Her previous experience includes serving as a researcher at the Center for the Study of State and Society (CEDES), and as a consultant for ISALUD University and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). She has published extensively on the anthropology of health, gender and health from a feminist perspective, sexual and reproductive health, health policies and services, Indigenous health, and rurality. She is an active member of the Argentine Network of Anthropology and Health (RedASA) and the Argentine Nucleus of Rural Anthropology (NADAR).

Katherine Molina Guido

katherine.molina.guido@una.cr

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5769-1508

She holds a Degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Educational Management with an emphasis on Leadership from the Center for Research and Teaching in Education (CIDE) at the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). Currently, she serves as a professional in academic support services and as a consultancy project manager at the Institute for Social Studies in Population (IDESPO). Her experience is centered on the management of social research projects and providing support for research processes related to population and development. She is the co-author of the study 'A Life Without Pauses or Breaks: Gender Constructions Based on the Experiences of Rural Women Regarding Unpaid Domestic and Care Work in Family Dynamics,' developed alongside women from the rural communities of Calle Vargas and Las Virtudes in Santa Cruz de Turrialba, Cartago. Her areas of interest include unpaid domestic and care work, gender and feminist perspectives, educational and social project management, and leadership.

Carolina Sánchez Hernández

carolina.sanchez.hernandez@una.ac.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4671-5119

She holds a Degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, both from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). She has been a Faculty Member at the School of Sociology of the National University (UNA) since 2017. Additionally, she has served as a lecturer in the Master’s in Justice Administration and the Master’s in Gender Perspective in Human Rights at UNA, as well as in the Graduate Program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UCR. Her research and professional work focus on human rights, feminist theories, body and sexuality studies, as well as areas related to epistemology and research methodologies. She resides in Heredia, Costa Rica.

Adriana Salazar Miranda

adriana.salazar.miranda@una.ac.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9890-7281

She holds a Degree in Sociology from the National University (UNA) and a Master’s in Sociology from the University of Costa Rica (UCR), where she is currently a PhD candidate in the Doctorate of Society and Culture Studies. She has served as a faculty member and researcher at UNA’s School of Sociology since 2009. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Academic Master’s Program in Social Management of Culture and Arts at UNA. Her research and professional work encompass sociology of culture, global capitalism, museology, cultural management, Indigenous peoples, Indigenous women, heritage, gender perspectives in labor unions, feminism, and violence. She resides in San José, Costa Rica.

Irma Sandoval Carvajal, Costa Rica

isandova@una.ac.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7068-1671

She holds a Master’s degree in Economic Policy from the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). She possesses extensive experience in population and gender studies. Since 1983, she has worked for the Institute for Social Studies in Population (IDESPO) at the National University. She also teaches at the School of Statistics of the University of Costa Rica (UCR); she holds the rank of Full Professor at both universities. She has held several leadership positions, including Director of IDESPO, member of the University Council at UNA, and member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Additionally, she was part of the founding group for both the Regional Master’s in Women’s Studies and the Master’s in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is a pioneer of Time Use Surveys in Costa Rica. In 2011, she coordinated the first survey in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) and co-authored the first estimation of the economic value of unpaid domestic work. She served as an advisor to INEC during the stages of the 2017 Time Use Survey. Her intellectual production includes over 100 publications on her various fields of study. She also coordinated the I and II International Symposium on Time Use held in 2019.

L. Diego Conejo Bolaños

diego.conejo.bolanos@una.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6415-0337

He holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica and earned a PhD in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor and Researcher at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Childhood and Adolescence (INEINA) at the National University of Costa Rica (UNA), and is a collaborating researcher for the Infants and Environmental Health Program (ISA; IRET-UNA). His research focuses on child development, self-regulation, and prosocial behavior, exploring how social and environmental factors—such as pesticide exposure and the family environment—influence neurodevelopment and behavior. He also addresses educational inequality and the development of interventions to promote family well-being and positive parenting.

Marianella Castro Pérez

marianella.castro.perez@una.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7428-0285

She is a Full Professor with an academic background as a Bachelor in Pedagogy with an emphasis on Preschool Education, a Master’s in Educational Administration, and a Bachelor of Laws. Her professional career began in preschool education, and since 2002, she has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at CIDE-UNA. She serves at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies of Childhood and Adolescence and represents the university on the Technical Committee of the National Council for Childhood and Adolescence, as well as the Commission for the Development of Public Policies for Childhood and Adolescence, among others. She has held several leadership roles, including Coordinator of the Community Student Practice (PEC-UNA), Vice Rector of Outreach, and currently serves as Academic Advisor to the Office of the Deputy Rector. Additionally, she is an active member of the Academic Career Commission, serves on editorial boards, and is a reviewer for national and international academic journals. Her research and outreach work focuses on educational quality, teacher training, pedagogical environments, play-based learning (lúdica), values, and children's rights, all supported by numerous publications.

Harlen Alpízar-Rojas

harlen.alpizarrojas@ucr.ac.cr

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0909-1944

She holds a Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Work and Organizational Psychology from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). Since 2014, she has served as a faculty member and researcher at the same institution. Her research career has focused on topics related to labor, gender, psychosocial risk factors, organizational climate, occupational stress, and Burnout syndrome, fields in which she has published in peer-reviewed national and international journals. She served as the coordinator for the cluster accreditation process for Psychology programs at UCR, contributing to the successful joint accreditation awarded in 2019. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Human Resources Psychology at the University of Valencia, Spain, where her research examines digital competencies and their relationship with work variables and outcomes within the teaching context.

María Andrea Araya-Carvajal

mariaandrea.araya@ucr.ac.cr

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4178-9402

Psychologist, educator, and researcher, she holds a Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Contemporary Latin American Studies from the University of Costa Rica (UCR), where she is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Sciences on Central America. With over fifteen years of experience in university teaching, she has built an academic career at UCR—spanning the Occidente Regional Branch, the School of Psychology, and the Center for Women's Studies Research (CIEM). Her work addresses topics such as mental health, gender, community organizing, and social resistance within neoliberal contexts. Her research has focused on psychosocial issues through a gender lens, as well as on the visibility of rights-based struggles for peasant communities, migrants, and refugees. She has served as a lead coordinator and collaborator on various social outreach and research projects, with numerous national and international publications. Her work has been presented at academic conferences throughout Central and Latin America.

Sharo Rosales Arce

sharo.rosales67@gmail.com

https://independent.academia.edu/SharoRosalesArce

Communications specialist, gender researcher, and women’s human rights activist. Her academic credentials include a Diploma in International Defense of Human Rights from the School of Law at the University of Zaragoza, Spain; a Diploma in Equality and Women’s Empowerment from the University of Salamanca, Spain; and a Diploma in Women’s Human Rights from CLADH (Latin American Center for Human Rights). With over 25 years of experience, she has advised and trained organizations in organizational development and gender mainstreaming across Central America, Mexico, the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. She currently serves as an organizational development manager and Gender consultant. She is a founding member of the Gender and Media Observatory (GEMA) and is the current President of the Latin American Biblical University.

Lidia María González Vega

lidgonzalez@gmail.com

She holds a Degree in Socio-Economic Planning and a Diploma in Social Promotion from the National University (UNA), as well as Master’s studies in Community Development from the University of Missouri. She has over 24 years of experience in statistics with a gender perspective. Her expertise includes supporting the development of time-use surveys, violence against women surveys, and gender indicator systems. She has served as a professor in the Master’s Program in Women’s Studies at both UNA and UCR. Furthermore, she has participated in International Meetings on Gender Statistics and Time-Use Studies at the regional level. She has published several articles on the valuation of unpaid domestic work and gender statistics.

María del Rocío Peinador Roldán

rocio.peinador.roldan@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6069-8227

She holds a Master’s in Demography from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO, Mexico), a Master’s in Latin American Studies from the Université de Paris III Sorbonne-Nouvelle, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). She has specialized in public health management, poverty measurement, gender and labor markets, time-use, research ethics, and the development of indicators and surveys. Her professional background includes serving as Chief of Staff and Advisor at the Ministry of Health, Psychologist at the CCSS (Costa Rica), and Director of Poverty Measurement Standards and Methods at CONEVAL (Mexico). She has served as a consultant for the UN Population Division (UNDESA, New York), UNICEF (El Salvador and Panama), UNFPA (Costa Rica), and UN Women (Mexico). Her academic experience includes roles at UNAM and FLACSO in Mexico, as well as the National University (UNA) and the University of Costa Rica.

Ana Lucía Fernández Fernández

anfernandez@uned.ac.cr

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8079-0329

She holds a PhD with an emphasis on Sociology from the Free University of Berlin, Germany; a specialization in gender-sensitive care policies from CLACSO; and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). She was awarded the 'Ángela Acuña Braun' National Prize for Gender Equality and Equity (2022–2024 edition) for her doctoral dissertation. She is a researcher at the Institute of Gender Studies at UNED Costa Rica and has served as a professor at UCR’s School of Sociology and in various programs within its Graduate Studies System. Additionally, she has led research at the Central American Population Center (CCP-UCR). She has been the recipient of international fellowships from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the University of Valencia (Spain), and the AMI-UNED project.

Michelle Cordero Camacho

mcordero@inamu.go.cr

Teléfono: +506 8399 3253

Psychologist and legal professional (currently a law student), she serves as a specialist in the Public Policy Management Department at the National Institute for Women (INAMU). She has over 25 years of experience in mainstreaming human rights approaches within institutional frameworks for marginalized populations, including women, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples, as well as in developing public policy through citizen participation. At INAMU, she manages the mainstreaming of the gender perspective across public institutions, focusing on reducing gender gaps in employment—particularly those related to the social co-responsibility of care and gender biases. She serves as the Coordinator of the Inter-institutional Agenda for Paid Domestic Work and, by legal mandate, as the Coordinator of the support and monitoring committee for the National Time Use Survey (ENUT).

Alexander Chaverri-Carvajal

achaverri@ced.uab.es

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2203-2607

He holds a PhD in Social Sciences from Pablo de Olavide University (Spain) and a Master’s in Public Services and Social Policies from the University of Salamanca. He is a Researcher at the Center for Demographic Studies (Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His professional experience includes serving as an Advisor to the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica and as an Advisor to the Minister of Human Development and Social Inclusion. Additionally, he has worked as a public policy specialist for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and as a consultant on long-term care and the welfare state in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.

Mauricio Matus López

mmatlop@upo.es

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5273-823X

He holds a PhD in Economics and is a Full Professor in the Department of Economics, Quantitative Methods, and Economic History at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, Spain. He is a member of the Spanish Economic History Association, the Ibero-American Research Network on Work, Gender, and Daily Life, and the Ecological, Feminist, and Development Economics Research Group. He has served as a consultant for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). With over two decades of experience in Latin American health and care systems, his research incorporates an interdisciplinary approach involving economics, history, and gender.

Ana Sofía Solano Acuña, Costa Rica

ana.solano.acuna@una.ac.cr

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5189-4735

A graduate in Social Anthropology with a PhD in History and Humanistic Studies from Pablo de Olavide University (Spain), her work bridges the gap between Central American studies and Indigenous history. Currently, she leads the 'New Readings of Central America' research initiative at IDESPO-UNA in Costa Rica. Additionally, she maintains a strong international presence as an Associate Researcher at the Colegio de América in Seville, Spain.