Women and Social Movements in Latin America : Power From Below

Women's grassroots activism in Latin America combines a commitment to basic survival for women and their children with a challenge to women's subordination to men. Women activists insist that issues such as rape, battering, and reproductive control cannot be divorced from women's concerns about housing, food, land, and medical care. This innovative, comparative study explores six cases of women's grassroots activism in Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, and Chile. Lynn Stephen communicates the ideas, experiences, and perceptions of women who participate in collective action, while she explains the structural conditions and ideological discourses that set the context within which women act and interpret their experiences. She includes revealing interviews with activists, detailed histories of organizations and movements, and a theoretical discussion of gender, collective identity, and feminist anthropology and methods. This Innovative, Comparative Study Explores Six Cases Of Women's Grassroots Activism In Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, And Chile. Lynn Stephen Communicates The Ideas, Experiences, And Perceptions Of Women Who Participate In Collective Action, While She Explains The Structural Conditions And Ideological Discourses That Set The Context Within Which Women Act And Interpret Their Experiences. She Includes Revealing Interviews With Activists, Detailed Histories Of Organizations And Movements, And A Theoretical Discussion Of Gender, Collective Identity, And Feminist Anthropology And Methods.--jacket. Ch. 1. Introduction: Gender And Politics, Experience And Structure -- Pt. 1. El Salvador. Ch. 2. Women's Rights Are Human Rights: The Merging Of Feminine And Feminist Interests Among El Salvador's Mothers Of The Disappeared (co-madres). Ch. 3. Women For Dignity And Life: The Emergence Of Feminisms From El Salvador's Revolutionary Left -- Interview: Morena Herrera -- Women For Dignity And Life -- Pt. Ii. Mexico. Ch. 4. The Politics Of Urban Survival: The Women's Regional Council Of The Conamup, Mexico -- Interview: Irene Soto -- Women's Regional Council Of The Conamup. Ch. 5. The Unintended Consequences Of Traditional Women's Organizing: The Women's Council Of The Lazaro Cardenas Ejido Union, Nayarit -- Interview: Dona Kata Moreno And Aurora Cruz -- Lazaro Cardenas Ejido Union -- Pt. Iii. Brazil. Ch. 6. Class, Gender, And Autonomy: The Rural Women Workers' Movement Of Southern Brazil -- Interview: Gessi Bones And Marlene Pasquali -- Rural Women Worker's Movement -- Pt. Iv. Chile. Ch. 7. Sweet And Sour Grapes: The Struggles Of Seasonal Women Workers In Chile -- Interview: Antonia Gomez -- Industry Union Of Seasonal And Permanent Workers Of Santa Maria. Ch. 8. Conclusions: Women In Action. Lynn Stephen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [297]-318) And Index. Women and Social Movements in Latin America covers a wide array of issues, from the progression of feminist politics in Latin America to the country specific conditions which give rise to diverse women's organisations