Indigenous and Global Feminist Perspectives on the Women of Chiapas

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Indigenous and Global Feminist Perspectives on the Women of Chiapas

Women's reproductive health is a debated and complex issue in today's society. Nowhere is its severity more prevalent than in areas of extreme poverty such as south and Central America. The resolution to these problems is far from simple. Yet, women are increasingly taking control of their lives and forming groups to combat many of the prejudices that hold them back. However highly debated some tactics for resolution may be it is hard to miss the shear urgency with which the issues of women's rights and health call us. The fight for gender equality cannot overlook the importance of equality in health care and control over one's own body. Women's health is an issue that passes along its concerns to another generation every time a child is born.

Before being able to discuss women's issues in third world countries, it was important to find an area of study. For this, I chose Chiapas, Mexico. Chiapas is a place where the true effects of capitalism are felt on a daily basis. Upon the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the lives of the indigenous people living in Chiapas changed dramatically. Acorrding to Jeeni Criscenzo, author of Some Personal Observations on the Reasons Behind the Events in Chiapas, "(Mexican leaders) entered into trade agreements with foreign interests (NAFTA) that at US insistence, made changes to their constitution that effectively ended Indian communal land right making it possible for Foreign corporations to take Indian land and resources" (Criscenzo 2). But why did our government, and that of Mexico allow this to happen? Ms. Criscenzo answers that question with the following statement, "In the world of internati...

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.... (1999): 1-12

"Men's Involvement in Women's Reproductive Health Projects and Programmes in the Philippines: part 1 of 2." Reproductive Health Matters 7. 14. (1999): 1-9

Nazar-Beutelspacher. "Education and Nonuse of Contraceptives Among Poor Women in Chiapas Mexico (Part one)." International Family Planning Perspectives 25. 3. (1999): 1-7

Nazar-Beutelspacher. "Education and Nonuse of Contraceptives Among Poor Women in Chiapas Mexico (Part two)." International Family Planning Perspectives 25. 3. (1999):1-6

"Report from San Cristobal." (1998): 4-9. Online. Internet. 3/28/00 http://www/criscenzo.com/jaguar/report.html

Shadows of Tender Fury. Bardacke and López. New York: Montly Review Press, 1995. 161

"Some Personal Observations on the Reasons Behind the Events in Chiapas." (1998):5. Online. Internet. 3/28/00. http://www.criscenzo.com/jaguar/report.html

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