Uruguayan Family Values

Because women were granted legal rights at the start of the 20th century, patriarchy is far less prevalent in Uruguayan homes than it is in other regions of Latin America. As an illustration, the right for women to seek for divorce without specifying a cause was granted five years after the law allowing divorce on the basis of husband cruelty went into effect in 1907.

At this time, women also received the freedom to control their own finances, and they were granted the right to vote in 1938. This is not to suggest that machismo doesn't exist in Uruguay because it does, but it does so on a much more subdued level.

With an average family unit size of 3.4 heads, families are typically tiny in Uruguay. This is because hiring domestic help is simple, which facilitates working for women, and because education is highly valued. Because education is valued so highly, more women join the workforce and people are more likely to delay having children until they have achieved their intended professional goals.