Resumen

SOTO ALARCON, Jozelin María. Gender dynamics in neoliberal social reproduction of Mexican rural households. Intersticios sociales [online]. 2024, n.28, 00007.  Epub 25-Nov-2024. ISSN 2007-4964.  https://doi.org/10.55555/is.28.584.

The neoliberal era in Mexico intensified the burden of women's social reproduction in rural households. Policies aimed at providing support and collective organizing reinforced moral duties related to care work, with ambivalent effects on gender relations both inside and outside the household. The research focuses on the Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera Program and women-led cooperatives, examining their impact on three aspects: women's labor capabilities, household resource allocation, and the perception of care. The cooperatives were situated in two rural communities at Hidalgo with a high rate of male emigration. The study analyzed the gender-twin dynamic and its performativity, the household moral economy, alternative organizing, and strategic (dis)obedience to identify the drivers of change and continuity in gender relations. Using a qualitative research approach, two case studies were investigated to distinguish patterns that (dis)stabilize gender norms related to care work. The study found that subverting gender norms required mothers' strategic (dis)obedience, recognition of their work, and the practice of reciprocity by husbands, who were exposed to unconventional gender labor division. Finally, the perspective sheds light on collective and solidary alternatives to move towards the shared responsibility of caring.

Palabras llave : social reproduction; women-led cooperatives; care work; gender dynamics; rural Mexico.

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