Cuadernos de Historia Económica - Women in central banking: The case of the Colombian Central Bank, 1923-2023
The series of Cuadernos de Historia Económica (only in Spanish, Notebooks on Economic History) is a publication of Banco de la República in Cartagena. The opinions contained in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not commit Banco de la República or its Board of Directors.
The series of Cuadernos de Historia Económica is a publication of Banco de la República in Cartagena. The opinions contained in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not commit Banco de la República or its Board of Directors.
Abstract
This paper examines the career path of women in central banks, particularly at the Banco de la República of Colombia throughout its 100-year history, and also examines the experience of other central banks around the world to provide an international context. Given the scarce historical record on gender patterns in central banks, especially in Latin America, this paper contributes in part to filling that gap by gathering the history of the institution's female employees. In particular, it addresses issues such as female labor participation, changes in social and cultural norms, education, the pioneering role of the first female employees in central banks, their professional development and their representation in managerial positions. It finds that the evolution of female employment at Banco de la República follows a pattern similar to that of other central banks, where women's relationship with their jobs has evolved towards career building.
