Hugo Chavez, 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.<br /><br />For 13 years now, Chavez 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.<br /><br />The socialist leader's female constituency say its because Chavez includes them in the decisions that most affect their lives.<br /><br />At 70 per cent, the majority of representatives on Venezuela's communal councils are women, and the Chavez government funds over 3,400 female-run kitchens that each feed up to 100 women and children per day.<br /><br />Though his supporters say Chavez'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.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Petare.
