Invisible inequalities: indigenous peoples and indigenous women in Argentina

Abstract

Although in recent decades progress has been made in Argentinian legislation that recognizes the pre-existence of indigenous peoples, there is still a strong lack of knowledge and invisibility about their socio-economic situation. In this regard, this article, based on the 2010 National Population, Household and Housing Census (which included consultation to the population on indigenous self-registration), seeks to describe and analyze the differential living conditions of the indigenous population of Argentina, contrasting them with those of the non-indigenous population, and focusing on the situation of indigenous women, considering they overlap inequalities: for being women and for being indigenous. Finally, the aim is to reflect on how population censuses have addressed the situation of indigenous peoples by identifying their scope, limitations and potential, taking into account they are States’ tools and source of information for the design of public policies