Colombia

The Republic of Colombia is located in South America and features a diversity of regional cultures. Most of the population is mestizo or mulatto. The predominant culture is Hispanic and the predominant religion is Roman Catholic. Gender roles in Colombia are largely shaped by the traditional Hispanic cultural emphasis on male dominance while physical appearance and socioeconomic status are also important. Recent urbanization as well as increased educational and employment opportunities are slowly changing traditional gender roles. Although women enjoy civil equality, gender discrimination is still common, particularly in urban areas. Colombia was ranked 56th of 134 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2009 Global Gender Gap Report.