Contextualization-Evidence-Analysis-Outside info-Synthesis Gender and Politics in 20th Century Latin America

Contextualization Latin America, although gaining freedoms in the Atlantic Revolutions 1750-1900 were under economic imperialism in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Local military collaborators (caudillos) were working with American business interests in mind often exploiting the land, labor and capital of the native inhabitants. Women, although major players in revolutions, were often dismissed in the machismo culture of Latin America and maintained their identity in the domestic sphere. The Mexican Revolution (like the Cuban, Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese) promoted redistribution of land and reforms to peasants (of whom it would greatly appeal to) Women will struggle to get equal rights (feminism) and voting rights (suffrage) based on pre-existing patriarchal values.

Document 1 written by the minister of public education in Mexico writes a letter to the editor in “The Mexican Woman” arguing that the role of the woman is in the domestic sphere and that The political sphere should be reserved for man. His Audience (women and men alike) is changing Their attitudes on women (feminism) and Justo Sierra is trying to justify traditional gender roles

Document #2 argues that suffrage (the right to vote) is essential to combat institutions which have been caused by patriarchy The speech at the feminist congress is for the purpose of gaining support amongst Mexican revolutionaries to provide women the right to vote in order to safeguard a better way of life for women and their children ( better housing, better schools, markets, etc.)

Document#3 Illustrates the political role of women as fighters in the revolutionary cause perhaps for the purpose of showing their “non-traditional” role to gain suffrage

Document #4 in Pre-Revolutionary Cuba (that’s before Castro and Communism and under U.S influence after Spanish-American War) discusses the economic role of women The purpose is to discuss the worldwide economic motivation to grant women further rights in response to the increasing activism of women and the fear of women becoming socialists (promise of no sexism?) Note: Anti Communist and Anti-Socialist sentiment existed well before the cold war begins and its fear of opposing capitalist ideology

Document #5 is a speech by anarchist and union organizer Maria Luis Marin in response to jailed Communist Heron Proal The purpose is to continue the protest of rent strikes (not paying rent in opposition to exploitative policies of land holders) After the Revolution the growth of Communism and socialism increased due to the economic imperialism and corruption of local governments and this woman argues that, together, their struggle would be joined in solidarity for the purpose of greater economic rights.

Document #6 is a letter from a veteran of the Mexican Revolution to President Lazaro Cardenas for the purpose of denying women’s rights He argues of the propensity for women to be more criminal than men and the madness which would be brought about if women were to be granted further rights (note how doc 1 and 6 discuss a women’s traditional domestic role)

This document from a socialist revolutionary organization for the purpose of gaining female support in the Nicaraguan revolution Again, the exploitation of the United State’s economic imperialist program in central America benefitting military dictators inspires revolution in 1969 and gains the support of socialists promising women’s political, cultural and economic benefits if they join the revolution

Document #8 illustrates the political role of women to gain recognition and demand the release of political prisoners of conscience in Argentina Throughout Latin America dictators like Pinochet (Chile) Somoza (Nicaragua) Videla (Argentina) often arrested, abused and often executed dissenters. Women who could not speak out would often hold pictures of the missing to bring about worldwide attention for the release of their brothers, husbands and sons

Document #9 illustrates the important political role of women in the front-lines of the Nicaraguan revolution This female activist is arguing that the role of women fighting alongside men in the revolution argued that they are equal and should participate equally on all scales as men for the purpose of granting greater rights for women in Nicaragua

Document #10 speaking at the first meeting of temporary agricultural workers in Chile Appeals to the audience of women as “sisters or Companera” for the purpose of uniting against abusive husbands who do not allow them to do things like convene and fight for economic rights and wish for equal rights.

Synthesis Linking it to another time: women in the French revolution and the role of the vindication for the rights of women to illustrate the role of women in revolutions historically Linking it to another place: Evaluating the role of women in 20th century Myanmar/Burma and Ann Sang Suu Ki and the protests, house arrests and eventually the use of Buddhist/non-violence to gain international attention to her eventually re-entrance into politics and gaining a majority of her political party in parliament to exact changes from within Linking it to another discipline: Women’s historians who study the plight of patriarchy and the various women's’ historic movements including May fourth movement in China, Suffragist movement in the United States, Green belt movement in Kenya and today’s feminist (pink hat movement) Happy Mother's Day (Sunday)