Re: Research paper - Women's Involvement in Zapatista Movement

Subject:

Comments:
: : Hello. I'm a student at Sonoma State University and doing some research for a paper on the above. After some reading, I still have some questions. Please respond asap...and if you have any additional information that would be helpful, I would reall y appreciate it! Thanks in advance.1. From my reading I've found that it is not that uncommon that both Mexican and indigenous women are involved in revolutionary movements. Is there something that makes Chiapas unique?2. I've read that the involvemen t of women is somewhere near 30%. What is that in terms of actual numbers, and are these women in support or combat roles, or a combination of both?3. Why is Marcos the only one who speaks for the EZLN? Why not a woman?4. Is this also a class struggle between Ladino and Mayan women, or is there support from Ladino women as well? : Dear Diane, : Some good questions here, not necessarily easy to answer... : I'm going to give a first stab at it and hope that others leap in : to stir it up a little more. : : 1. "Revolutionary movements" is rather : vague. It would be helpful if you made a more direct comparison, : between the Zapatista movement and some other particular : historical movements -- the Mexican Revolution, Tlaltelolco, : Indigenous uprisings in Southern Mexico in the 1800s, rural Campesino : movements of the 80s, urban teachers' strikes -- each of these : examples of poltical action is unique and involves women in distinct ways. : : In any case, Chiapas *is* different, but how? Let's see how many different : answers we can come up with here. : : For one, the Zapatista movement is not about taking power. : Most revolutionary movements are; some political organizations : are and some are not. There is something new here in the way in which : the indigenous woman has left her home, chosen not to marry, and volunteered : to take up arms and fight for something she believes in.The women : in the Zapatista Army are learning Spanish (if they don't know it), : bearing arms, and, in many cases, givong orders to men -- who, serving : at their side, are charged with washing dishes and sweeping floors : as well as being militant. : So. How much can we really know of what goes on in the ranks of the : EZLN? Especially, of what the women there are thinking, : feeling, experiencing? : I concieved of this space in part in hopes that those with any knowledge, : experience or insight might come here to share their views, stories, : photographs, hunches, intuitions and, when possible, knowledge. : : 2. The queston of how many Zapatistas are women is far from resolved. : How many out there have heard or read 50%? More? Another figure? : : Well, again, how is anyone really to know. This seems a great space to raise the issues : of methodology, resources and hard data. To say the least, the subject of Zapatista : women is new, is now, and is extremely elusive. : : In any case, yes, women are Zapatistas in both military and : supportive roles. Some are in the Army, and live in the jungle with : the other soldiers, and others have never left their communities : but act in sloidarity, in any number of ways. There are women in the Comandancia General : (as well as the individual community Comandancias) who play major : decision-making roles. : : I invite you all to challenge my assertions here, question my sources, raise alternatives-- : let's make this a space of exploration and collaboraton. I am hoping others with : closer knowledge than I will chime in... : : 3. Hmmmm. Well, Marcos is not the only one who speaks for the EZLN. There have been EZLN communiques : issued specifically by Zapatista women to women elsewhere, most often around March 8, International : Women's Day. And Comandante Ramona recently spoke in Mexico çity to a lorge audience. And Cecelia Rodriguez : of the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico and the United States is the official/appointed spokesperson : for the EZLN in the United Stated (of North America). : : Yet, it is true that Marcos is the predominant speaker of the movement. : I'd be happy to speak more to this later. This reply is getting long and I'd like to hear what others mgith have to : contribute... : : 4. The Ladino issue is another complicated one. More later on this as well. But, yes, there are most definitely : urban and rural Ladino women involved in Zapatismo -- both those with strong in indigenous heritages and those : of all or mostly European descent. : : Okay, who's next? :) : : Geneve

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL: