The impacts of CAFTA-DR on gender inequality and apparel trade in El Salvador.

This article examines the impact of the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), implemented in 2006, on gender inequality and apparel trade in El Salvador, the leading apparel manufacturing employer in Central America. Using a mixed-methods approach combining multivariate regression analysis of United Nations Development Programme Gender Inequality Index (GII) indicators—maternal mortality rate, adolescent birth rate, secondary education attainment, women in parliament seats, and labor force participation—with in-depth interviews of Salvadoran women working in apparel factories, the study finds that CAFTA-DR and associated apparel export and import growth have positively influenced four of the five GII indicators over time. Qualitative data reveal themes of maternal responsibility, prioritization of education and career before childbearing, realization of educational aspirations, and the importance of women's networking in the apparel workforce. The findings suggest that international trade policies like CAFTA-DR can contribute to economic growth and gender equality, while highlighting the need for gender-specific labor protections and supportive programs within the global apparel supply chain.