Chávez Wins Venezuelan Women's Hearts
Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, continues to enjoy high popularity among the nation's women, as thousands vote for him and carry his message of socialism to the masses. For 13 years now, Chávez has been able to count on the support of working class women, most notably, in 2002 when they marched for his safe return during a failed coup against him. The socialist leader's female constituency say its because Chávez includes them in the decisions that most affect their lives. At 70 per cent, the majority of representatives on Venezuela's communal councils are women, and the Chávez government funds over 3,400 female-run kitchens that each feed up to 100 women and children per day. Though his supporters say Chávez's initiatives show that feminism and socialism go hand-in-hand, his critics say the Venezuelan president's overtures to women are merely political ploys for continued support. Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Petare.