Childcare, Gender, and Public Policy in Lima’s Marginalized Neighborhoods (Peru)

Abstract

Persistent gender disparities in employment opportunities disproportionately affect women in socioeconomically vulnerable communities. A key factor influencing this inequality is the social organization of caregiving, particularly early childhood care, which often falls outside the scope of public service provision. This article draws on a case study with in-depth interviews on childcare arrangements in urban-marginal districts of Lima, exploring the experiences of mothers with state-funded early childhood education and care programs. It highlights the structural challenges in public policy design that hinder access and participation. Findings reveal that mothers are generally reluctant to enroll their children in these programs unless they have no alter-native. Additionally, limited service availability creates significant barriers to access. The study indicates that several aspects of the design of Peruvian state-funded daycare services actively discourage demand. Furthermore, a deeply ingrained maternal duty ethic reinforces distrust toward these programs—distrust that is often not based on direct experience. The most common reason cited for using daycare is the absence of alternative caregivers within the family network. Notably, many mothers who have never used daycare services perceive them negatively, despite recognizing their necessity.