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Women in Belize

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Women's Evolving Lives

Abstract

This chapter focuses on women in Belize. This Central American nation, formerly known as British Honduras, became independent in 1981 and currently has a population of approximately 330,000. Belize is a diverse nation, with Mestizo, Afro-Creole, Maya, Garifuna, and Mennonite identities well-represented, along with other groups, such as East Indian, Lebanese, and Chinese. First, the historical, political, and geographic background of Belize is reviewed. Then research on women’s roles at home and work is explored. The chapter also devotes sections to discussions of girls’ and women’s developmental psychology, to the political participation of women, to violence against women, to the education of girls and women, and to women’s health issues. The effects of technology on women in Belize and images and attitudes toward Belizean women are also examined. Finally, steps toward improving women’s lives and a view of women’s future in Belize are presented. The information presented is offered as a springboard to learn about the culture; readers are encouraged to refrain from generalized assumptions about all women in Belize.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Juneau, AK, 99801, USA

    Grant J. Rich

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  1. Grant J. Rich
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Correspondence to Grant J. Rich .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Scholar, Oak Park, California, USA

    Carrie M. Brown

  2. Department of Psychology, St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    Uwe P. Gielen

  3. Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

    Judith L. Gibbons

  4. Department of Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA

    Judy Kuriansky

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Rich, G.J. (2017). Women in Belize. In: Brown, C., Gielen, U., Gibbons, J., Kuriansky, J. (eds) Women's Evolving Lives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58008-1_13

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