Overview
This lecture analyzes the key expressions and strategies of Mexican feminism in Mexico City, focusing on grassroots/NGO work, feminist governance, and public mobilizations, particularly around abortion, political parity, and violence against women.
Grassroots and NGO Feminism
- 1980s feminist consciousness-raising groups evolved into NGOs for effective advocacy and funding.
- NGOs supported education and networks for marginalized women, including Indigenous and domestic workers.
- NGO-ization allowed feminists economic sustainability without abandoning political goals.
- Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE) and alliances advocated for abortion legalization.
- In 2007, legal abortion up to 12 weeks was achieved in Mexico City due to feminist and political support.
- Mexico City’s abortion model became a national reference, though restrictive laws persist in most states.
Governance Feminism and Political Parity
- Mexico’s democratic transition increased feminist focus on gaining governmental and legislative power.
- Governance feminists pushed for gender quotas in politics, leading to a 30% women’s candidate quota law in 2002.
- Quotas increased women legislators: 16% (2000) to 49% (2018) in Congress.
- In 2014, constitutional reform legally established the principle of electoral parity (50-50 representation).
- Parity mainly addressed political posts but neglected parity in education and domestic spheres.
Public Mobilizations and Anti-Violence Activism
- Feminist activism intensified around violence against women, especially femicide (gender-based killings).
- Feminists made violence visible and pushed for legal recognition, resources, and support for victims.
- Violence reflects intersecting oppressions: class, ethnicity, age, and neoliberal necropolitics.
- Young feminists organize mass protests, using digital platforms for coordination and awareness.
Intersectional and Generational Feminism
- Movements highlight intersectionality, including class, ethnicity, sexuality, and generational divides.
- Notable mobilizations like the Violet Spring (2016) and Mi primer acoso (#MeToo) focus on inclusion and structural critique.
- University students, artists, and diverse women participate, voicing anger and solidarity.
Recent Feminist Explosions and Government Relations
- Rage over impunity and government inaction led to direct actions, strikes, and building occupations.
- Tensions with the current government persist over issues like shelter closures and abortion access.
- Feminists demand systemic change and a stronger feminist perspective in policymaking.
New Forms of Feminist Activism
- Recent protests break norms: public body display, confrontational tactics, feminist marks in public space, and new feminist knowledge production.
- COVID-19 disrupted mobilizations, but activism continues through both traditional and disruptive means.
- The feminist narrative has gained broad societal resonance despite a lack of unified strategy.
Key Terms & Definitions
- NGO-ization — The transformation of activism into formal non-governmental organizations for sustainability and efficacy.
- Governance Feminism — Feminist work within government and political structures to achieve policy changes.
- Parity — Equal representation (50/50) of genders in political offices.
- Femicide — The killing of women because of their gender, recognized as a legal and social issue.
- Intersectionality — Analyzing overlapping social identities and related systems of oppression.
- Necropolitics — Political power exercised through violence, especially under neoliberal conditions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key feminist organizations and their contributions in Mexico City.
- Read about the legal process and challenges of abortion reform in Mexico.
- Study data on the increase in women’s political representation post-quota reforms.
- Explore contemporary feminist protest tactics and intersectional approaches.
- Follow updates on feminist demands and policy changes in Mexican governance.