Radical Women in Latin America: Left and Right [Paperback]

Victoria Gonzalez (Author, Editor), Karen Kampwirth (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0271021012 | ISBN-13: 978-0271021010 | Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Radical Women in Latin America is a collection of original essays by scholars from a variety of disciplines anthropology, history, and political science on the political activism of women from both the left and the right. The stories of these radical women challenge traditional portrayals of men as violent and women as inherently peaceful. This volume forces us to confront the fact that there is no automatic sisterhood among women, even among those of the same class and ethnicity. At the same time, the essays show the similarities that can unite women across immense political divides.This book analyzes radical women s actions and motivations through four interrelated themes maternalism, feminism, autonomy, and coalitions between left and right-wing women in three Central American countries (Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala) and three South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile). The editors and contributors to this volume have done extensive and recent field research in Latin America.Radical Women in Latin America challenges both stereotypical views of Latin American women as easily manipulated and portrayals of women's activism as inherently progressive. This book will make clear that women are capable of defining their own interests and their political identities, organizing autonomously, and even using violence, if they deem it necessary to pursue their goals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kampwirth and González have assembled a fine collection of articles about women and politics in Latin America, one that challenges existing approaches that have focused largely on studies of leftist or antiauthoritarian movements. The studies combine careful empirical research with a variety of disciplinary approaches to historicize the relationship between gender and political action in modern Latin America. An essential contribution to the increasingly sophisticated field of Latin American gender studies. --Elizabeth Hutchison, University of New Mexico

In an important innovation, this volume presents new, interdisciplinary case studies of Latin American women's political activity on both the left and the right of the political spectrum. It offers comparisons that allow the reader to gain broader insight than has been available into the strategies and goals of women's political participation. Most significantly, the collection provides the basis for generating new theories of women's organizing that are not based solely on progressive women s movements. Principal among its findings are that women s different political projects are crosscut by issues of feminist ideology, political autonomy, coalition-building, and maternalism. In particular, it concludes that no matter the goal, some level of autonomy from historically male-dominated institutions, whether political parties, unions, or the church, is necessary for women to assert their own interests, however they define them. --Elisabeth Friedman, Barnard College

By looking at a range of female behavior, from reprehensible acts to laudable ones , Radical Women in Latin America offers an even-handed perspective of women's political activities in the region.... By their interdisciplinary approach, Gonzalez and Kampwirth have added color to what could have been a rather dense account of gender politics and polemics. They also show us that political transitions cannot be fully explained without considering women s roles on both sides. --Elizabeth Rigby, Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Victoria Gonzalez is earning her Ph.D. in Latin American History from Indiana University.
Karen Kampwirth is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Latin American Studies Program at Knox College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 343 pages
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr (Txt) (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0271021012
• ISBN-13: 978-0271021010
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Activism