Argentina

Citation:

Barker, Karina. 2007. "Women and Social Movements: Engendering Argentina’s Piquetero Movement." Undercurrent 4 (1): 57-65.

Author: Karina Barker

Abstract:

The piquetero movement arose in Argentina in the 1990s as a response to high rates of unemployment, and a sizeable proportion of this movement – including some of its most militant members – are women. In a context where it is often assumed that women play less of a visible role in the public sphere than men, this paper explores what reasons can best explain women’s high participation rates in the piquetero movement. This paper argues that women are involved in the movement in such large numbers for three main reasons. First, the movement is framed in a way that encourages the creation of a unitary, collective identity along traditionally gendered divisions of labour. Despite the problematic, gendered nature of these framing methods, they have nevertheless enabled women’s easy involvement in movement. Second, participation in the movement allows women to meet practical gender interests, thus encouraging their participation. Finally, membership to the piquetero movement can address women’s strategic gender interests. This paper is largely grounded in Molyneux’s (1985) theory on strategic and practical gender interests, and the findings are partly based on field research, participant observation and personal discussions in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Topics: Civil Society, Gender, Women, Livelihoods, Political Economies, Political Participation Regions: Americas, South America Countries: Argentina

Year: 2007

Citation:

Schwindt-Bayer, Leslie. 2006. “Still Supermadres? Gender and the Policy Priorities of Latin American Legislators.” American Journal of Political Science 50 (3): 570-85.

Author: Leslie Schwindt-Bayer

Abstract:

This article examines the effect of gender on legislators' attitudes and bill initiation behavior in three Latin American countries—Argentina, Colombia, and Costa Rica. I argue that sex role changes in Latin America over the past 35 years have led to changes in how female legislators perceive their political roles, and consequently, changes in their attitudes and behavior. Specifically, female legislators will place higher priority than male legislators on women's issues and children/family concerns, but their attitudes in other areas, such as education, health, the economy, agriculture, and employment, will be similar. However, I expect that gender dynamics in the legislative arena lead to marginalization of women such that gender differences will emerge for bill initiation behavior where they did not appear for attitudes. I test this using a survey of legislators' issue preferences and archival data on the bills that legislators sponsor and find statistical support for the hypotheses.

Topics: Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Governance, Political Participation Regions: Americas, South America Countries: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica

Year: 2006