In our reading and discussion we have examined women's literary and journalistic production and their participation in national and international political life we have undertaken bibliographical projects we have worked together to design new courses and made a number of panel presentations at regional and national conferences. Met monthly for the past seven years to discuss feminist theory and Latin American women's history and literature. The eight authors published here make up a study group, the UC-Stanford Seminar on Feminism and Culture in Latin America, which has We must know our predecessors and the history of their struggle, and make them known to others. Women now striving for legitimacy and equality in these arenas (such as ourselves) must contend with such prejudices every day. At the same time, the tendency to restrict culture and politics in these ways with respect to women reinforces a male elitism that claims serious intellectual, artistic, and political work as exclusive preserves of men.
When the question of culture is raised, the term is often taken to encompass everyday life, domestic activity, manual work, religious practices, marriage, the body.įeminism has taught us the immense importance of these dimensions of women's being and activity. When women's participation in politics is discussed in this context, often only grass-roots and local activity are considered. In part owing to its very important links with policy studies, research on women has been oriented toward topics such as health, reproduction, migration, demographics, and development. The overall corpus of research on women in Latin America shows little focus on women's intellectual, literary, political, and pedagogical activity. The intention here is decidedly to open rather than conclude discussion.
Rather, it takes the form of a series of case studies that examine particular dynamics and raise questions that ultimately will prove essential to a more comprehensive account. The collection by no means attempts a comprehensive account of the topics named in its title. Its authors are scholars in literary criticism, history, and cultural studies working mainly at research universities in the United States.
This book is about the history of women in politics, letters, and intellectual life in Latin America.