San Salvador - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
I haven't noticed any problems with ethnic, racial, or religious prejudice, but I'm white so what the heck do I know? Gender inequality is still a huge issue in El Salvador, from the high rates of femicide to my nanny telling my daughter which toys are "strange" for boys to want to play with. - Oct 2023
None that I know of. - Feb 2022
Not really, as far as I can tell. They have public service announcements about preventing violence against women - so I'm guessing that is an issue here. There are some women in the cabinet and who hold local office. - Aug 2021
I haven't experienced any, but it is a very Catholic country so their are religious prejudices. - Mar 2018
Salvadorans tend to be religious, either Catholic or Evangelical with a growing Mormon population. Salvadorans tend to have a conservative outlook. Women's rights are not especially respected among some socieconomic groups. - Jul 2016
90-95% of Salvadorans look the same (mixed European and indigenous); so there isn't as huge of a racial disparity that you see elsewhere in Latin America. Expats of all origins stand out as expats, and generally don't appear to have too many issues. There is certainly an undercurrent of Latin American machismo, but this affects local Salvadoran women far more than expats. - Dec 2015
Yes. I think there are problems with racism here. It is a very conservative place. - Jun 2015
In general no... - Mar 2015
Yes unfortunately.I heard that in the distant past, African-decendents were expelled from the country, so there are very few people of color and it is unsettling. That being said, my African-American friends all made great friends and some fell in love with locals. - Oct 2014
There are no people of Color!. Not even one I could find. Kids of color are teased in school. Please be aware of this before coming to post! No gender prejudices that I have noticed. - Jul 2014
There are no ethnic minorities here. - Apr 2012
There are very few people of African-American descent and I have heard of some horrible comments directed at young children in the international schools. - Jul 2011
"La Matanza" in the 1930's resulted in the genocide of anyone of African or obvious indigenous ancestry, and anyone else who wasn't Spanish or mestizo. The result is a very homogenous group of people with little to no variation. There are no blacks, and very few Salvadorans will admit to having any indigenous blood whatsoever, even when it is impossible for everyone to be the 100% Spanish they claim. A *vast* majority of the country is Catholic, with some Mormons and very well-respected Jews thrown into the mix. Women definitely play second fiddle to men here, and it's not unusual for a woman to be completely ignored in a conversion on "men's topics" like cars and politics. I briefly had a gardener who wouldn't do anything I asked of him without checking with "el señor". He did not work for us for long. - May 2010
Not really. Certainly not for expats. - Feb 2009
