Abstract

VAZQUEZ GARCIA, Verónica; CARCAMO TOALA, Naima Jazíbi  and  HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ, Neftalí. Between Office and Motherhood: Municipal Authorities in Oaxaca. Perf. latinoam. [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.39, pp.31-57. ISSN 0188-7653.

In México, women's participation in municipal politics faces, among other difficulties, that of reconciling domestic and public responsibilities. Drawing on research conducted with eighteen female mayors of Oaxaca, this paper analyzes the ways in which women perceive the relationship between motherhood, double burden (child raising and domestic work) and their presidential position. All the women who have ruled a Custom and Practice municipality in Oaxaca since 1996 were interviewed. Two main conclusions are drawn from the analysis. First, the relationship between motherhood and presidential position varies according to women's marital status; the age of their children; and their chances of hiring domestic help. Second, even if women assume a public position of prestige and responsibility, they continue to perform domestic duties; household chores do not get redistributed among its members.

Keywords : gender; politics; municipality; presidency; motherhood; double burden.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )