Movimiento Independiente de Mujeres
Article written by Monica Sandschafer
In late November, over 20 member groups of the Movimiento Independiente de Mujeres (Independent Movement of Women) gathered for their yearly assembly in San Cristobal.
Women came from indigenous communities and towns all over Chiapas to discuss the problems facing the women in their area and share the work of their organizations. The forum identified a wide range of issues that negatively impact the lives of women, including economic issues such as Plan Puebla Panama, the decrease in salaries and increase in prices of goods, the devaluing of women's work, the impact of maquiladoras, lack of work and the resulting emigration of men. The women also noted that intervention of the government in their lives through supposed "aid" programs was often divisive or broke up their communities through privatization of communal land. Domestic violence, alcoholism, primarily among men, and the prevalence of polygamy were named as problems which con tinue to degrade the lives of women.
In the face of these widespread problems and the violence many women experience when they do organize, the work of these women is inspirational. Many of these women's organizations provide training and workshops for women on a variety of issues, including human rights, literacy, sexuality and reproductive health, mental health and leadership training and the development of organizational processes. Other groups provide services or shelter for women who are victims of violence. Still others are involved in electricity resistance or overall resistance to government assistance. Women's cooperatives, gardens and stores are another way that women are attempting to regain economic power. Please contact Monica Sandschafer at masandschafer@yahoo.com for more information.
In late November, over 20 member groups of the Movimiento Independiente de Mujeres (Independent Movement of Women) gathered for their yearly assembly in San Cristobal.
Women came from indigenous communities and towns all over Chiapas to discuss the problems facing the women in their area and share the work of their organizations. The forum identified a wide range of issues that negatively impact the lives of women, including economic issues such as Plan Puebla Panama, the decrease in salaries and increase in prices of goods, the devaluing of women's work, the impact of maquiladoras, lack of work and the resulting emigration of men. The women also noted that intervention of the government in their lives through supposed "aid" programs was often divisive or broke up their communities through privatization of communal land. Domestic violence, alcoholism, primarily among men, and the prevalence of polygamy were named as problems which con tinue to degrade the lives of women.
In the face of these widespread problems and the violence many women experience when they do organize, the work of these women is inspirational. Many of these women's organizations provide training and workshops for women on a variety of issues, including human rights, literacy, sexuality and reproductive health, mental health and leadership training and the development of organizational processes. Other groups provide services or shelter for women who are victims of violence. Still others are involved in electricity resistance or overall resistance to government assistance. Women's cooperatives, gardens and stores are another way that women are attempting to regain economic power. Please contact Monica Sandschafer at masandschafer@yahoo.com for more information.
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