Women, Equity, and Household Water Management in the Valley of Mexico

Citation:

Ennis-McMillan, Michael C. 2005. “Women, Equity, and Household Water Management in the Valley of Mexico.” In Opposing Currents: The Politics of Water and Gender in Latin America, edited by Vivienne Bennett, Sonia Dávila-Poblete, and María Nieves Rico, 137-153. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Author: Michael C. Ennis-McMillan

Annotation:

Quotes:

“Because women often have the primary responsibility for managing crucial household resources, their increasing role outside the household in accessing such resources indicates how social change and power struggles over household consumption spill over into social relations outside the domestic sphere.” (139)

“As development specialists explore how to incorporate women into water management, it is critical to realize that installing piped water systems involves more than simply applying engineering principles and transferring new technology. Water control systems are also cultural systems that emerge from particular histories, meanings, and practices.” (139)

“Although women’s status is changing, both men and women often commented that women’s participation in local water management makes sense because of, and not despite, traditional gender norms and expectations. Women have extended their traditional roles as managers of water in the household to community water management…” (151)

Topics: Civil Society, Development, Gender, Gender Roles, Infrastructure, Water & Sanitation Regions: Americas, North America Countries: Mexico

Year: 2005