Motherhood, Social Policies and Women's Activism in Latin America

This book is a critical resource for understanding the relationship between gender, social policy and womens activism in Latin America, with specific reference to Chile. Latin Americas mother-centered kinship system makes it an ideal field in which to study motherhood and maternalismthe ways in which motherhood becomes a public policy issue. As maternalism embraces and enhances gender differences, it has been criticized for deepening gender inequalities. Yet invoking motherhood continues to offer an effective strategy for advancing womens living conditions and rights, and for women themselves to be present in the public sphere. In analyzing these important relationships, the contributors to this volume discuss maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights, labor programs, paid employment, women miners unionization, housing policies, environmental suffering, and LGBTQ intimate partner violence.