Gendered Violence and Neocolonialism: Indigenous Women Confronting Counterinsurgency Violence

• Published in: Latin American perspectives Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 151 - 154
• Main Authors: Castillo, R. Aída Hernández, Mora, Mariana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications 01.01.2008; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Armed forces; Commentary; Communities; Counterinsurgency; Criminology; Cultural Pluralism; Gender roles; Gender studies; Indigenous populations; Mexico; Militarization; Native peoples; Neocolonialism; Political violence; Rape; Rebellions; Sex crimes; Sexual violence; Social Movements; Soldiers; Terrorism; Violence; Violence against women; Violent crimes; War; Women; Women's studies; Mexico
• ISSN: 0094-582X; 1552-678X
• DOI: 10.1177/0094582X07311364

The first months of the Calderon administration in Mexico have been characterized by the militarization of indigenous regions throughout the country and the continued criminalization of social movements - the perpetration of state violence and repression in the name of "social peace." Indigenous women are suffering the consequences of militarization in a special way. The rape of Ernestina Ascencio Rosario by four soldiers in the Sierra de Zongolica, in Veracruz, called attention to indigenous people's rejection of military presence in their communities. The case evidences the racism and sexism of those in power and the networks of complicity that permit and perpetrate impunity in Mexico. It is urgent that alliances are created between the feminist and the indigenous movement to denounce neocolonial strategies that use sexual violence as a counterinsurgency tool in Mexico.