Where has the time gone!!! The last couple of weeks I have had my head in the books and on Monday somehow managed to get my Literture Review completed. This was a 3,000 word review of literature related to the theme that I hope to do my research project on. The review looked at books and articles that examine the position of rural and indigenous women in Mexico. This group of women suffer from a complex combination of extreme poverty, gender and ethnic inequality and oppression and lack of autonomy.
Two of the books that I reviewed are worth mentioning. The first is a book by Sarah Levine called Dolor y Alegria , [Pain and Joy]. This book tells the story three generations of women, looking at their struggles, achievments and future hopes for their families. Many of the older women came from very poor rural backgrounds, with nothing but the clothes they wore when they married. They have moved to urban areas to try and improve thier life. It is interesting to look at the changes in expectations as the story examines each generation. A strong theme in the book is the battle for a better life for the next generation. This story certainly give you a good understanding of the complexities of life for women in Mexico.
The second book I would like to mention was only published this year. Women of the Yucatan. Thirty who dared to change their world, by George Ann Huck and Jann Free.
This book is an inspiring read. Huck and Free interview 30 women from the strongly patriarchal Yucatan region of Mexico. These women are from all levels of society, with very diverse backgrounds. However, each story is inspiring. They tell of how they overcame many obstacles, broke with tradition and pushed the boundaries. You cannot fail to be taken in by the stories of these genuine heroines, who have fought for their communities, families and independence.
If you are at all interested in these topics I would recommend both these books.
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Huck, G. and Free, Gee 2010, Women of Yucatan. Thirty who dared to change their world, McFalan & Company Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina.
LeVine, S. 1993, Dolor y Alegria, Women and Social Change in Urban Mexico, University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin, USA>
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