Mexico D.F.: Generating Cultural and Political Change

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

México D.F. exists simultaneously as an exceptional sphere of influence within the Americas, a quintessential heart of Mexico, and a complexly precarious environment for its residents. Because of the unique yet exemplary environment of the city, it is a generative force of emergent social, cultural, and political transformations with expansive consequences. The interdisciplinary papers of this panel take distinct approaches to seeing Mexico City as a setting for cultural and political change. Two papers, one a literary analysis of Luis Zapata’s (1979) novel El Vampiro de la Colonia Roma and the other a historical analysis of LGBT movements from 1965-1985, demonstrate how Mexico City’s late twentieth century gay scene posed challenges to heteronormativity in Mexican nationalism. The final two papers use an anthropological perspective to explore two distinct Mexico City social movements, one from the right and one from the left. One investigates Mexico City’s role as a meeting place for anarchist thinkers from all over the globe and the impact of this history on contemporary transnational social movements. The second, based on fieldwork with activists, clinic workers, and abortion-seekers, examines the anti-abortion ProVida movement that continues to battle the Federal District’s guarantee of women’s access to free and legal abortions. Each of these papers conceives of the city as an important backdrop and generator for diverse historical, social, cultural, and political transformations.

Sub Track

• Civil Society and Social Movements

Session Organizer

• Livia K Stone, Illinois State University

Chair

• Livia K Stone, Illinois State University

Individual Presentations

• Sexual Citizenship: The First Mexican Homosexual Liberation Movement and Mexican Nationalism, 1960-1985 - Ryan M Jones, SUNY Geneseo

• Spatial and Discursive Practices in Luis Zapata’s El vampiro de la colonia Roma - Manuel R Cuellar, University of California/Berkeley

• Mexico City and New Transnational Anarchisms - Livia K Stone, Illinois State University

• “We Stand for Life”: Anti-abortion activism in Mexico City - Elyse O Singer, Washington University