Violence and Activism at the Border: Gender, Fear, and Everyday Life in Ciudad Juarez (Inter-America Series)

Between 1993 and 2003, more than 370 girls and women were murdered and their often-mutilated bodies dumped outside Ciudad Ju?rez in Chihuahua, Mexico. The murders have continued at a rate of approximately thirty per year, yet law enforcement officials have made no breakthroughs in finding the perpetrator(s). Drawing on in-depth surveys, workshops, and interviews of Ju?rez women and border activists, Violence and Activism at the Border provides crucial links between these disturbing crimes and a broader history of violence against women in Mexico. In addition, the ways in which local feminist activists used the Ju?rez murders to create international publicity and expose police impunity provides a unique case study of social movements in the borderlands, especially as statistics reveal that the rates of femicide in Ju?rez are actually similar to other regions of Mexico. Also examining how non-governmental organizations have responded in the face of Mexican law enforcement's "normalization" of domestic violence, Staudt's study is a landmark development in the realm of global human rights. Between 1993 and 2003, more than 370 girls and women were murdered and their often-mutilated bodies dumped outside Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua, Mexico. The murders have continued at a rate of approximately thirty per year, yet law enforcement officials have made no breakthroughs in finding the perpetrator(s). Drawing on in-depth surveys, workshops, and interviews of Juárez women and border activists, Violence and Activism at the Border provides crucial links between these disturbing crimes and a broader history of violence against women in Mexico. In addition, the ways in which local feminist activists used the Juárez murders to create international publicity and expose police impunity provides a unique case study of social movements in the borderlands, especially as statistics reveal that the rates of femicide in Juárez are actually similar to other regions of Mexico. Also examining how non-governmental organizations have responded in the face of Mexican law enforcement's "normalization" of domestic violence, Staudt's study is a landmark development in the realm of global human rights. Contents 8 Preface and Acknowledgments 10 Chapter 1. Violence at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Framing Perspectives 20 Chapter 2. Culture and Globalization: Male Backlash at the Border 48 Chapter 3. Women Speak about Violence and Fear: Surveys and Workshops 70 Appendix 3A: Research Design 91 Appendix 3B: Brochures Distributed to Participants 93 Color Photos 98 Chapter 4. Framing and Mobilizing Border Activism: From Femicide to Violence against Women 106 Appendix 4A: Fiction or Nonfiction? 137 Appendix 4B: V-Day 2004 Proclamation, City of El Paso 139 Chapter 5. Government Responses to Violence against Women 140 Chapter 6. Toward Eradicating Violence against Women at the Border: Conclusions 170 Notes 186 Bibliography 188 Index 206 Preface And Acknowledgments -- Violence At The U.s.-mexico Border: Framing Perspectives -- Culture And Globalization: Male Backlash At The Border -- Women Speak About Violence And Fear: Surveys And Workshops -- Appendix 3a: Research Design -- Appendix 3b: Brochures Distributed To Participants -- Framing And Mobilizing Border Activism: From Femicide To Violence Against Women -- Appendix 4a: Fiction Or Nonfiction? -- Appendix 4b: V-day 2004 Proclamation, City Of El Paso -- Government Responses To Violence Against Women -- Toward Eradicating Violence Against Women At The Border: Conclusions -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. Kathleen Staudt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [161]-178) And Index. A timely analysis of the disturbing murders that have taken the lives of nearly 400 Mexican women in El Paso's twin city.