Memories of Women's Militancy before the Coup d'Etat in Chile

• Published in: Estudos feministas 2018-09, Vol.26 (3)
• Main Author: Cruz Contreras, Maria Angelica
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 0104-026X
• DOI: 10.1590/1806-9584-2018v26n348715

This work deals with the links between Gender and Social Memories of Dictatorship in Chile, focusing on the political trajectories of left-wing female activists. We begin by problematizing the connections between Gender and Memory, followed by an analysis of the beginning of these women's political activity. We draw from a Life History methodology to learn about women who participated as young activists during the Popular Union, were politically persecuted after the Coup d'Etat, were involved in resistance groups, and remain politically active today. The analysis explores the way gender is reproduced and challenged in the making of a memory of the recent past. Departing from there, we conclude about the appropriateness of a Women's Standpoint as a starting one, as Feminist Epistemologies claim, in order to articulate Social Memory and Gender. Keywords: Female Political Trajectories; Social Memory; Feminist Epistemologies; Gender Este trabajo aborda las articulaciones entre genero y memorias sociales de la dictadura civico-militar chilena focalizadas en las trayectorias politicas de mujeres militantes de izquierda. Partimos problematizando las relaciones entre genero y memoria, seguido del analisis sobre el inicio de la participacion politica de las mujeres. Metodologicamente nos basamos en relatos de vida de mujeres que fueron jovenes militantes durante la Unidad Popular, tras el Golpe de Estado experimentaron la represion politica, se involucraron en la resistencia contra la dictadura, y en el presente permanecen activas politicamente. El analisis problematiza como el genero se reproduce y se desafia al hacer memoria sobre el pasado reciente. A partir de ello concluimos sobre la pertinencia de partir del punto de vista de las mujeres, que reclaman las epistemologias feministas, al articular memoria y genero. Palabras clave: Trayectorias politicas de mujeres; Memorias Sociales; Epistemologias Feministas; Genero