The widowhood in the Years of Lead: memories and fluid identities

• In Event: Migración, derechos humanos y nuevas identidades

Abstract

Widowhood and widow are words with the strong symbolic connotation that has been built since the biblical time in the Western culture. They are related to situations that involves the death of spouse motivated by physico-biological circumstances or another nature like political command in case of wars. These losses for the existence and the need of a body identified by the death certificate, the funeral, the mourning time for the family members. This time is the place of field of Memory, from memories of the one missing. How to understand the meaning of this disruption in the women’s life? It must be assumed a new legal identity that places the women under a strong cultural tradition. In the present history time the violence in Brazil and Argentina due to military dictatorships was dangerous for people. They lived under threats, facing the death and "enforced disappearances" from the repressive act of the Terrorism of State. In this superhero fighting game, other identity perceptions were possible. This, among other questions is very important to analyze female widowhood invisibility, the absence of the legitimacy words to claim for justice and human rights.

Author

• Lidia Maria V Possas, UNESP campus de Marília/SP