MEMORY, HISTORY AND MACHISMO IN N ICARAGUA Nicaraguan cultural practices afford numerous mnemonic techniques for preserving, remembering, and binding people together in the face of adversity. And if the sandinista position has remained stronger than many analysts predicted in the wake of its electoral defeat, memory and resilience may owe more to compadrazgo than is immediately apparent (Lancaster, 1992: 68).

Important Details Nicaraguan population (5 to six million approximately). Nicaraguan size (128,875 km2). Sandino: A Nicaraguan hero who fought guerrilla warfare against the US Marines (late 1920’s to early 1930’s). Sandinista movement named after him. Somoza Garcia: Founder of the Somozan dynastic dictatorship in Nicaragua.

Key words AGENCY is the notion that all members of a society retain a capacity to make a difference in the ongoing course of social and cultural events. MACHISMO: A system (like capitalism) of productive relations, Gender relations in which men have the upper hand.

Today’s goals Introduce Lancaster’s unique study of Nicaragua by looking at the effects of war and machismo in social relations in Nicaragua Examine the construction of anthropological knowledge in Nicaragua by looking at the reflexive and self-reflexive nature of lancaster’s ethnographic representation

Anthropology and Historicism

Reinforcing this mentality through representation (National Geographic video): Detaches people from historical events and systems of economic and social structures of inequality Reinforces condescending attitudes toward less powerful peoples

AGENCY is the notion that all members of a society, even if in a social or cultural structure of inequality, retain a capacity to make a difference in the ongoing course of social and cultural events.

Lancaster’s theoretical and methodological approach Neo-marxist tradition --critique of power relations from the point of view of the disadvantaged --working and lower--middle classes --analysis of power structures

Effects of war in social relations People under military and economic attack --constant threat of military invasion --economic hardship --collapse of real wages Particular conjunctures of the sandinista revolution --internal contradictions between the left and the right wing sectors of the country -- appearance of widespread social discontent

Coping strategies Sharing: fictive kin (compadrazgo) Principle of reciprocity Not purely economic transaction Social safety net

COMPADRAZGO is the traditional ritual practice of co- parenting. An infant’s parents select a compadre (cofather) and a comadre (co- mother) for the child’s baptism; the compadres (co-parents) act as sponsors at the baptism and enter into a long-term relationship with the child (Lancaster, 1992: 63).

Provides people with two benefits Perpetual exchange of goods -- distribution of goods in communities Mutual benefits --Securing patronage --securing services

The Social impact of Machismo Structures the Nicaraguan family --more social opportunities for men --privilege --more social agency --more sexual and reproductive freedom Machismo produces social capital -

According to Lancaster Machismo no less than capitalism, is a system. Like racism, homophobia, and other forms of arbitrary power, arbitrary stigma, machismo is resilient because it constitutes not simply a form of "consciousness,” not “ideology” in the classical understanding of the concept, but a field of productive relations (19)

Structuring of social relations Defines gender relations by naturalizing them: --men control women’s bodies in their sexuality --threats of using physical violence

With the Revolution two sets of values coexist Cult to aggressive masculinity --Sexual conquest, irresponsibility The concept of the New man --fidelity, sharing

Second Goal Construction of anthropological knowledge in Nicaragua: --ethnographic reflexivity --points of view dialogue Process of self-discovery: --participation in everyday activities --cross-cultural dialogue

Anthropology inside-out Presenting to his informants a picture of his country Double reflexive proposition --a reading of their reading of the anthropologist’s culture

Study Questions According to Roger Lancaster how is machismo a field of productive social relations? Provide examples from his ethnography. What is the relationship between culture and history, how are culture and history linked in the lives of the protagonists of “Life is Hard”? Provide details and examples from the first four chapters. Why are nonkin social ties important in places like Nicaragua? Provide examples of nonkin transactions from Lancaster’s book. Compare and contrast the plight of Nicaraguan women within the system of machismo with your situation in North American. Is Lancaster’s theoretical and methodological anthropological approach a good way of understanding cultures and situations such as those of Nicaragua?