Breathe
By Sofía Pérez Gasque Muslera
The Men in Business section: a blunder in times of equality and empathy
On January 15, 2025, the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) of Chihuahua celebrated an event that, far from marking a step towards inclusion and progress, reflects the insensitivity and lack of empathy of those who promoted it: the inauguration of the Businessmen's Section.
This event, presented as a milestone to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, demonstrates a total disconnection with the current social context and a regrettable setback in the fight for gender equity and equal opportunities.
An event disconnected from reality
In a country where women continue to struggle to take our rightful place in all sectors of society, the creation of a business section exclusively for men seems, to say the least, a monumental step backwards. It is not only unfortunate, but also deeply misguided in a context where organizations and movements are fighting for greater female representation and participation in the business world.
The event, which was held in the presence of local business figures, was led by Omar Armendáriz Jurado, President of CANACO, who highlighted the relevance of this new section as a means to promote male business leadership. While the intention of fostering strategic alliances and economic development may sound laudable, the fact that there is talk of exclusively male leadership highlights a serious lack of understanding about the meaning of gender equality and equity.
It is undeniable that strengthening the local entrepreneurial ecosystem must involve all actors, regardless of their gender or any other characteristic. However, at a historic moment when the fight for inclusion is more urgent than ever, creating a section exclusively for men is not only unnecessary, but perpetuates the exclusion of women in the entrepreneurial sphere. While new ways to boost female leadership are being sought, such initiatives send the complete opposite message.
To top it off....
During the ceremony, Mr. Omar Armendariz highlighted the relevance of the new Businessmen's Section, emphasizing that its objective is to promote male business leadership, foster strategic alliances and contribute to the sustainable growth of local businesses and innovation. However, the president forgot that true innovation cannot come from a single homogeneous group, but from the diversity of thoughts and approaches that can only be driven by the active participation of both genders.
Numerous studies show that teams with an equal gender composition are more effective in decision-making and are up to 15% more productive than those made up solely of men. In addition, companies that promote gender equality are 20% more likely to generate economic benefits above the average for their sector.
Genuine collaboration, not exclusion, is therefore what can really open up spaces for innovation and sustainable growth.
Lack of empathy from a media that does not understand equity figures
What is most alarming is that a local media outlet, instead of questioning this measure, supports it and presents this event as something positive for the business community. In doing so, the media seems to ignore the gender equity figures that remain alarmingly unequal in the business arena.
In fact, at the national level, the data are more than revealing: of the seven organizations of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) with voting rights in Mexico, none has a woman president. The participation of women on the boards of directors of business organizations is less than 10%.
In this context, it is worth asking: who told businessmen that men were not represented in business organizations? And that they even more require a section to "strengthen their participation". If male business leadership is already overrepresented, why continue to segment business spaces in this way?
By applauding the creation of an exclusive section for men, the media not only distances itself from contemporary social concerns, but also demonstrates a disturbing lack of empathy for those who, for generations, have been systematically excluded from the spheres of economic power.
