Women and Democracy & Lineages of Resistance

Chapter by Feijoó and Nari: Tell me about the Housewives' movement and the feminists. What did members of these two groups want? How were their goals and strategies shaped by the dictatorship? What did they do after the dictatorship? Do you think they succeeded?
Article by: Malena Nijensohn and Luciana Serrano (NACLA):
How has the relationship between the Madres and the feminists different in Nijensohn and Serrano's article compared to the one you just read by Feijoo and Nari?
What are some reasons why the relationship changed?
How and why is Argentine feminism different in 2024 than it was in 1994 (the publication dates of the two readings)?

In Women and Democracy in Argentina by María Feijoo and Marcela Nari, the Housewives' movement and feminists are portrayed as distinct yet impactful groups in Argentina's political landscape.

Housewives' Movement:

Goals: Members of the Housewives' movement aimed to address economic hardships and poverty, focusing on practical issues like food security and household welfare.
Strategies: During the dictatorship, they distanced themselves from traditional political activities and emphasized their role as caretakers to gain legitimacy. Their activism was shaped by the need to navigate repression while advocating for basic needs.
Post-Dictatorship: After the dictatorship, they continued their advocacy, expanding their focus to broader social justice issues.

Feminists:

Goals: Feminists sought gender equality, reproductive rights, and freedom from violence. They aimed to challenge patriarchal structures and promote women's autonomy.
Strategies: Under the dictatorship, feminists faced severe repression but used grassroots organizing and international networks to sustain their movement.
Post-Dictatorship: They became more vocal and organized, pushing for legislative changes and public awareness campaigns.

Success: Both groups achieved significant milestones. The Housewives' movement brought attention to economic injustices, while feminists advanced gender equality and women's rights. However, challenges remain, as systemic issues persist.

In Malena Nijensohn and Luciana Serrano's article, Lineages of Resistance, from the Mothers and Grandmothers to Mass Feminist Struggles, the relationship between the Madres (Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo) and feminists is portrayed as more interconnected and collaborative compared to the depiction in Feijoo and Nari's work.

Key Differences:

Feijoo and Nari: In Women and Democracy in Argentina, the relationship between the Madres and feminists is shown as somewhat distant. The Madres primarily focused on human rights and justice for the disappeared, while feminists concentrated on gender equality and women's rights. The two groups had overlapping goals but maintained separate identities and priorities.
Nijensohn and Serrano: This article highlights a stronger bond between the Madres and feminists in contemporary struggles. It emphasizes how the Madres have become a symbolic reference point for feminist activism, with their legacy influencing mass feminist movements in Argentina. The collaboration is framed as a "friendly bond of struggle," where both groups share a commitment to justice and resistance against oppression.

Reasons for the Change:

Evolving Political Context: As Argentina faced new challenges, such as threats from far-right, denialist governments, the shared need to protect hard-won gains brought the groups closer together.
Broadening of Feminist Agendas: Feminist movements have increasingly embraced human rights discourse, aligning their struggles with the Madres' legacy.
Generational Shifts: Younger feminists view the Madres as pioneers of resistance, fostering a sense of continuity and mutual respect.

This evolution reflects how social movements adapt and find common ground in response to changing political and social landscapes.

Argentine feminism in 2024 differs significantly from its 1994 counterpart, reflecting changes in political, social, and cultural contexts, as well as the evolution of feminist agendas and strategies. Drawing inspiration from Lineages of Resistance, from the Mothers and Grandmothers to Mass Feminist Struggles by Malena Nijensohn and Luciana Serrano, and Women and Democracy in Argentina by María Feijoo and Marcela Nari, here are some key distinctions:

1994: Feminism in Transition

Focus: Feminism in 1994 was primarily concerned with gender equality, reproductive rights, and challenging patriarchal norms. The movement was still recovering from the repression of the dictatorship and navigating the early years of democracy.
Strategies: Feminists relied on grassroots organizing and international networks to sustain their efforts. Their activism was shaped by the need to address the legacy of authoritarianism while advocating for women's rights.
Relationship with Human Rights Movements: As noted by Feijoo and Nari, feminists and the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo had overlapping goals but maintained separate identities. The Mothers focused on justice for the disappeared, while feminists prioritized gender-specific issues.

2024: Feminism in Expansion

Focus: By 2024, Argentine feminism has broadened its scope to include intersectional issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice, and environmental activism. The movement has embraced a more inclusive and diverse agenda.
Strategies: Feminists have adopted mass mobilization tactics, leveraging social media and digital platforms to amplify their voices. The movement has also forged stronger alliances with other social justice groups, including the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, as highlighted by Nijensohn and Serrano.
Relationship with Human Rights Movements: The bond between feminists and the Mothers has deepened, with the Mothers serving as symbolic reference points for feminist activism. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to justice and resistance against oppression.

Reasons for the Change

Evolving Political Context: The rise of far-right, denialist governments has necessitated stronger alliances among social movements to protect hard-won gains.
Generational Shifts: Younger feminists view the Mothers as pioneers of resistance, fostering a sense of continuity and mutual respect.
Global Influence: The international feminist movement has inspired Argentine feminists to adopt intersectional approaches and expand their agendas.

Argentine feminism's transformation from 1994 to 2024 illustrates its adaptability and resilience in the face of changing challenges.

María Feijoo and Marcela Nari's Women and Democracy in Argentina presents feminists and the Housewives' movement as separate but significant political forces in Argentina.
The Housewives' Movement's objectives were to alleviate poverty and economic suffering by emphasizing pragmatic concerns such as food security and household well-being. there Strategies were used To acquire legitimacy during the dictatorship, they stressed their function as caregivers and disassociated themselves from conventional political activity. The necessity of navigating persecution while promoting necessities influenced their action.
They persisted in their campaigning after the dictatorship ended, broadening their scope to include more general social justice concerns.

The objectives of the feminist movement were to promote reproductive rights, gender equality, and an end to violence. They sought to upend patriarchal systems and advance women's independence. Their tactics were Feminists endured harsh persecution during the dictatorship, but they managed to keep their cause going by using global networks and community organization. After the dictatorship ended, they organized and spoke out more, promoting public awareness campaigns and changes in legislation.

feminists Both teams hit important benchmarks. While feminists promoted women's rights and gender equality, the Housewives movement raised awareness of economic inequities. But there are still problems because structural problems exist.

The association between the Madres (Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo) and is presented as more interwoven and cooperative in Malena Nijensohn and Luciana Serrano's article, Lineages of Resistance, from the Mothers and Grandmothers to Mass Feminist Struggles, than it is in Feijoo and Nari's work.

Principal Disparities between Feijoo and Nari: The Madres and feminists are shown as having a rather strained relationship in Women and Democracy in Argentina. The Madres prioritized justice for the vanished and human rights, whilst feminists focused on women's rights and gender equality. Despite having similar objectives, the two groups kept their own identities and agendas.

Nijensohn and Serrano: This piece emphasizes the Madres' closer ties to feminism in today's conflicts. It highlights how the Madres' legacy has influenced large-scale feminist movements in Argentina and how they have come to represent feminist action. The partnership is presented as a "friendly bond of struggle," in which both parties are dedicated to fighting tyranny and pursuing justice.

Reasons for the Change: Changing Political Context: The groups became closer as a result of their common desire to preserve hard-won victories in the face of rising threats from far-right, denialist regimes in Argentina.
Expansion of Feminist Agendas: Human rights discourse has been embraced by feminist groups more and more, bringing their fights into line with the legacy of the Madres. Generational Shifts: The Madres are seen by younger feminists as trailblazers of resistance, encouraging mutual respect and continuity.
This development illustrates how social movements adjust to shifting political and social environments and discover points of agreement.

Because of shifts in political, social, and cultural environments as well as the development of feminist goals and tactics, Argentine feminism in 2024 is very different from that of 1994.

1994: The Transition of Feminism
Focus: Gender equality, reproductive rights, and questioning patriarchal conventions were the main concerns of feminism in 1994.
Strategies: To continue their work, feminists turned to global networks and grassroots organization.
Relationship with Human Rights Movements: Feijoo and Nari point out that although the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and feminists had same objectives, they remained distinct groups. While feminists gave gender-specific problems priority, the Mothers concentrated on justice for the vanished.

2024: The Growth of Feminism

Focus: By 2024, integrative topics including economic justice, environmental action, and LGBTQ+ rights had been included into Argentine feminism. A more varied and inclusive agenda has been adopted by the movement.
Strategies: In order to get their views heard, feminists have embraced mass mobilization strategies that make use of digital platforms and social media. According to Nijensohn and Serrano, the movement has also developed closer ties with other social justice organizations, such as the Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Connectivity to Human Rights Movements: With the Mothers acting as symbolic points of reference for feminist movement, the relationship between feminists and the Mothers has become stronger. A common dedication to justice and opposition to injustice is reflected in this partnership.

Causes of the Change
Changing Political Context: In order to preserve hard-won victories, social movements now need to form closer ties in the wake of the advent of far-right, denialist regimes.
Generational Shifts: The Mothers are seen by younger feminists as trailblazers of resistance, encouraging mutual respect and endurance.
Global Influence: Argentine feminists have expanded their objectives and adopted intersectional techniques as a result of the global feminist movement.
The evolution of Argentine feminism between 1994 and 2024 demonstrates its flexibility and fortitude in the face of shifting obstacles.

Class Discussion: the Madres started their movement they did not have a formal political (partisan) agenda; they just wanted their family back. electoral politics is all about compromise. but there was no room for compromise for the mothers. politicians weren’t thrilled with their commands.

housewives’ movement- they were mostly concerned about the coast of living, not feminist gender quality demands on the mothers demands either, they made demands that were pretty palatable to the military government. “Our husbands’ wallets are our policy”

the feminist organization- they wanted gender equality, most of them had to work underground during the dictatorship. immediate resurgence after the dictatorship. they were sympathetic with the mothers, but the mothers were ambivalent or even negative regarding feminism. (1994) also true for LGBT movement.

the 2024 difference than 1994- you don’t have to be born a female to be a feminist. men now go to marches more often than before. more unifying more effective. same sex marriage and abortion have different viewpoints. feminism was much more fringe in 1994, so current conversations are different.

how the mothers are different- shift from the demand to get their children on pushing the guilty to a more gender role of social equality, equity, and fairness.