The director of the Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE), Paco Ignacio Taibo II, has sparked controversy by presenting a new project to distribute 2.5 million books for free in 14 Latin American countries. The plan, in collaboration with regional governments, seeks to promote reading among young people, but has been criticized for the underrepresentation of female authors in the selection. Of the 27 titles, only seven are written by women. Taibo, when confronted about the lack of female representation, argued that quality should prevail over gender quotas, which provoked reactions from female writers who pointed out the exclusion of renowned Latin American female authors.
The controversy has highlighted a broader debate about gender equity in the literary field. The Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, tried to ease the dispute by announcing a forthcoming collection focused on women writers. Nevertheless, criticisms persist, with figures from the cultural sphere questioning Taibo's statements. Despite the controversy, the project is moving forward, and its distribution will begin on December 17 in various Latin American cities, with the aim of reconnecting young people with great works of 20th-century literature.
Read the full news article on The Country.
