Being born and raised in Uruguay as a woman I won’t deny the patriarchy exists here as well. After all, Uruguay is not paradise on earth, just a country like any other. However there are certain things that make me feel glad I’m here and not anywhere else in the world. I know that I will be paid the same as a man for the same work. I know that when, or if, I marry, I will not be won’t become “Mrs. [His Name]”, my name will always be my own, no matter who I’m with. I know my children can carry my surname if I choose. I know that if I’m ever in the need, I can access a safe abortion performed by trained professionals. I know I can report harassment, abuse, or assault including if the perpetrator is my husband or a relative.
It’s easy to take these things for granted when you’re used to having these women’s rights. But elsewhere in the world it’s (increasingly) not the case. Abortion in the US has become harder to access and women in certain states can be prosecuted if they seek one. Medical schools rigged women’s results to exclude female applicants in Japan. Misogyny in the UK is on the rise thanks to manosphere influencers such as Andrew Tate, as evidenced by Netflix hit series Adolescence.
Abortion laws in Uruguay and over-the-counter contraceptives
First and foremost, let’s look at abortion laws in Uruguay and contraception. The 1898 penal code punished abortion harshly. However, in 1933, abortions carried out in public hospitals were legalised. However, this was short-lived. A dictatorship two years later banned abortions in any public institution were banned and just one year later, abortion became criminalised once more. This law stayed in place—incredibly, for progressive Uruguay—until 2012.
Nowadays, women can legally access abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions allowing for later stages in cases of rape, severe fetal abnormalities, or risks to the woman’s life or health. To begin the process, you just visit your healthcare provider, where an interdisciplinary team—formed by a gynaecologist, psychologist and social worker—provides information about the procedure and alternatives. You’ll have a reflection period to reevaluate your decision, and if you decide to follow through, they’ll administer abortion pills (mifepristone) and arrange a follow up consultation to ensure everything went well.
Contraceptives can be bought in any pharmacy at an accessible price, Plan B included. Minors can also buy contraceptives over the counter, without parental permission.
Domestic violence in Uruguay
You can report domestic violence, abuse or rape, including when carried out by a spouse or relative. Uruguay is focused on preventing and addressing physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse and providing protections against gender-based violence. If you’re not a victim but a witness, you can still report. There’s even a website to report discreetly and anonymously. Also, there are hotlines specialised in support for victims, such as 0800 4141 or *4141 for women and 0800 5050 or *5050 for children and adolescents, regardless of sex.
Uruguay recognises femicide as a crime. The Penal Code has included femicide—when a woman or girl is killed by a man, usually in the context of an intimate or domestic relationship—as an aggravating factor in homicide cases since 2017.
Women’s vote in Uruguay
The first time a woman exercised the right to vote in Latin America was in Uruguay! The Plebiscite of Cerro Chato was held in 1927 in a small rural town to decide which department the town’s jurisdiction belonged to.
Uruguayan women got the right to vote between 1917 and 1938—a protracted process. Suffragettes like Paulina Luisi, the first woman to study medicine in Uruguay, fought hard for this change. Because of their efforts, voting rights for women were first written into Uruguay’s 1917 constitution, then officially made law in 1932. Women finally voted for the first time in national elections in 1938 (there should have been elections in 1934, but a military coup canceled them).
Uruguay was one of the first countries in Latin America to grant all women the right to vote. Meanwhile, in the UK, women over 30 got the vote in 1918, and a decade later, the age dropped to 21. Over in the US, white women won federal voting rights in 1920, but Black women faced racist barriers until 1965 before they could vote freely nationwide. Canada had a similar story: white women could vote starting in 1918, but Indigenous people were forced to give up their legal status or leave their communities just to vote. They didn’t get full, unconditional voting rights until the 1960s.
Divorce in Uruguay
Here Uruguay was once again a ground-breaker for women’s rights. Legal separation in a marriage was legalised in 1868 and is still in effect. And Uruguay legalised no-fault divorce way back in 1907. Totally revolutionary! Especially when compared to other countries in the region—with Brazil allowing divorce in 1977, Argentina in 1987 and Chile just over 20 years ago.
There are many ways to access a divorce settlement, and this can be done with or without your spouse. Couples can divorce through mutual consent, or if just one spouse wants to, by sole will. In Uruguay, you can turn a legal separation into a full divorce if you want.The laws are flexible, so people can end their marriage in the easiest way for them.
Women’s financial rights in Uruguay
In Uruguay, when you get married, what is yours can remain yours. Couples—including same sex couples—can avoid joint ownership of property by opting for aseparación de bienes(separation of assets) before or after marriage. This legal arrangement ensures that each spouse retains sole ownership of their individual assets (both pre-marital and acquired during the marriage) and debts incurred by a spouse remain their sole responsibility, shielding you from liability. This agreement must be written in a public deed and registered to be valid. Unlike divorce,separación de bienesdoes not dissolve the marriage but modifies its financial structure.
Maternity leave in Uruguay
Uruguay’s maternity leave policies are generous, especially compared to the US, though less so when compared to some European nations. Back in 1975, women got 12 weeks off – half before birth and half after, with extra time allowed for medical issues. By 1981, the law guaranteed full pay during leave for all working moms, including self-employed women.
Today, moms get 14 weeks of fully paid leave, usually split as six weeks before and 8 weeks after birth, though doctors can adjust this timing. Dads now get 13 paid days off too. When returning to work, mothers can choose a part-time schedule until the baby turns six months old in private jobs or one year in government jobs. Partners can also go part-time, but both parents can’t simultaneously. These rules apply to all workers in both public and private sectors.
Women in Uruguayan society today
In Uruguay, women are more likely to finish school and university than men. Nearly three out of every four university students are women, and they graduate at higher rates too. Women also tend to complete high school faster and with fewer dropouts compared to men.
When it comes to work, women make up about 46% of Uruguay’s workforce, around 800,000 workers. But despite their strong education, on average statistics show that women earn 20% less than men. A big reason for this gap is unpaid work with women spending nearly twice as much time as men on chores, childcare, and caregiving, leaving them less time for paying jobs.
Poverty is another challenge. While Uruguay has reduced overall poverty, women—especially single mothers—are more likely to struggle financially. About 75% of poor children live in households led by women.
To help, Uruguay offers programs like free childcare to low income families and single mothers of babies and toddlers aged from 45 days to 3 years through the CAIF initiative. You may have seen in our article on education in Uruguay that the public school day is much shorter than in most parts of the world. Particularly in disadvantaged contexts, there are occasional full-time public schools known as escuelas de tiempo completo. Classes last 7.5 hours a day, compared to the standard 4-hour schedule, enabling parents to work.
There are flexible work options, and support for women starting businesses through loans or training. The National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (INEFOP) offers courses free of charge and the National Development Association (ANDE) grants financial assistance. Some universities also provide online degrees, making it easier for mothers to study while working. These efforts aim to close the gap between men and women at work and at home.
And a last thing, women in Uruguay keep their last name(s) when they get married—it’s the norm
In Uruguay, women keeping their maiden name after marriage is the norm – there’s no need to take your husband’s surname at all. This is protected by law, reflecting Uruguay’s commitment to equality and personal identity. But in many places (like the US, UK, or Germany) even though it’s not legally required, social tradition still expects women to take their husband’s name by default, often because of cultural norms or paperwork that just assumes the change.
Uruguay, like several other Latin American countries, takes a more progressive approach. Here, the choice is entirely yours with no legal or social pressure either way. And honestly, taking your husband’s name is so unusual that if you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb, you’re better off just keeping your own!
