Between transnational feminism, political parties and popular movements: "Mujeres por la Dignidad y la Vida" in postwar El Salvador.
Item
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Title
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Between transnational feminism, political parties and popular movements: "Mujeres por la Dignidad y la Vida" in postwar El Salvador.
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Identifier
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AAI9946214
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identifier
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9946214
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Creator
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Ready, Carol Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: June Nash
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Date
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1999
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Anthropology, Cultural | Political Science, General | Women's Studies
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Abstract
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Mujeres por la Dignidad y la Vida (Women for Dignity and Life or the Dignas) is a Salvadoran women's organization that grew out of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), the guerrilla opposition in the civil war which ended in 1992. Based on research carried out between September 1996 and August 1997, this study documents how the Dignas have developed a discourse and practice based on their interpretation of feminist theory. Their feminism is shaped by their participation in the civil war, and the issue the war failed to resolve, the poverty of the majority of Salvadorans, particularly of rural women. It also responds to the post-war Salvadoran context where the FMLN has become a legal political party, the Salvadoran state is "modernizing" within a neoliberal framework, and gender issues have become the target of increasing international attention. Through interviews, participant observation, and life histories, the impact of these conditions on the character of Salvadoran feminism is illustrated.;This is done by exploring three of the Dignas programs. The first is their Reproductive and Sexual Health program which opened a "Midwives' House" in Nombre de Jesus, Chalatenango during this period. The second program is the Association of Mothers Seeking Child Support. This project, which was based in San Salvador, organized women who were seeking support from the state in getting the fathers of their children to provide child support. Local Development is the third program discussed. This chapter documents how the Dignas organized rural women in Suchitoto, Cabanas, to develop political platforms and lobby local political parties for the inclusion of those demands. It also describes the women's campaign to get the FMLN to include one of the women's representatives on their slate of candidates for the Suchitoto municipal council. In addition to these three programs, a chapter is devoted to a discussion of abortion, an issue which presents particular problems for Salvadoran feminism.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
