Since 2006, the Caravan of Central American Mothers travels across Mexico to look for their children who have disappeared in this nation while trying to reach the U.S. illegally. Their search...Show moreSince 2006, the Caravan of Central American Mothers travels across Mexico to look for their children who have disappeared in this nation while trying to reach the U.S. illegally. Their search became a battle against the systematic disappearance of migrants in transit and the massive violation of their human rights which are currently taking place in Mexico, in the indifference of the State and the society. By conducting a close cultural analysis of the symbolic practices used by the Caravan during its protests, this thesis argues that the Caravan’s mobilization of their motherhood, which intertwines with commemorative and dignifying acts, is a powerful tool aimed at humanizing the experience of illegal migrants and fostering respect for them and their rights. This is particularly relevant in a context in which structural and cultural violence feed into each other contributing to dehumanize the figure of the illegal migrant.Show less
