Wednesday Draft Questions

I really enjoyed the perspective shared by the “Women Saving the Amazon” video in that it showed the day-to-day life of women resisting the exploitation of nature. What is the value in having an understanding of the lives of activists outside of just their political involvement? Does this additional perspective carry the same weight for men versus women activists?

In Unearthing Women’s Anti-Mining Activism in the Andes, Jenkins notes “the lack of the Pachamama motif in Peruvian women’s accounts” in their explanation of their activism. Do you think this represents a significant difference in the nature of Ecuadorian versus Peruvian women’s resistance to the exploitation of their land?

Dulfano writes that “donning the añaco is considered a political act of protest and denunciation of the various forms of attitudes and behaviors that oppress anyone who is ‘different.’” I was somewhat perplexed to read that indigenous women experience discrimination simply for wearing traditional clothing. This refusal to assimilate to the culture of the rest of the country has become politicized even though clothing choice is such a simple act. Does this remind you of any other cultural practices that have become politicized simply for continuing in contemporary times?