Political Activism of Chilean women exiled in Spain (1973-1990)

By carrying oral history analysis, this thesis looks at the political activism of Chilean women exiled in Spain from a gender perspective. It highlights the role of gender and stereotypes in women's experience towards their "exilic condition" before and upon arrival to Spain, as well as political activism within and outside the Chilean community during the Spanish transition and arrival of the Spanish Socialist Party to the government in the 1980s. The main findings are: 1) despite their political activism before and during the government of the socialist Salvador Allende and in some cases clandestinely after the 1973’s coup, most women highlight motherhood and the role of their more visible partners in politics as the breaking point in their decision to self-exile. However, by identifying with the social identity of “political exile” based on their activism, their political identity and gender roles from Chilean society cross each other showing a conflicting experience. 2) the...Show moreBy carrying oral history analysis, this thesis looks at the political activism of Chilean women exiled in Spain from a gender perspective. It highlights the role of gender and stereotypes in women's experience towards their "exilic condition" before and upon arrival to Spain, as well as political activism within and outside the Chilean community during the Spanish transition and arrival of the Spanish Socialist Party to the government in the 1980s. The main findings are: 1) despite their political activism before and during the government of the socialist Salvador Allende and in some cases clandestinely after the 1973’s coup, most women highlight motherhood and the role of their more visible partners in politics as the breaking point in their decision to self-exile. However, by identifying with the social identity of “political exile” based on their activism, their political identity and gender roles from Chilean society cross each other showing a conflicting experience. 2) the gendered division of labour framed Chilean women participation among the Chilean community in Spain, being assigned so-called “female tasks” based on the gendered division of labour which many times kept them invisible from Chilean transnationalism in Spain. And 3) As a result, a group of women organized outside the traditional organics of the Chilean movement to advocate for human rights in Chile and Latin America incorporating the struggles and role of women in these regards. The two cases analyzed are the Chilean women’s association “Tralún” located in Madrid who advocated for human rights in Chile and Latin America from a feminist approach. Likewise, the case of the lawyer and Chilean Judge Alicia Herrera Rivera who became the face against gender violence in Spain in 1983 is analyzed. Herrera’s case shows how her involvement in the feminist movement imposed a “new exile” this time from the Chilean community as her advocacy for women’s rights was seen as a threat to the working-class unity in the Chilean Left.Show less

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Political Activism of Chilean women exiled in Spain (1973-1990)