Casa Amiga: Feminist Community-Building in Ciudad Juárez as an Alternative to the Structural Violence of Globalization

By Joanna SwangerPresented by Shauna

Wimmer

Casa AmigaCasa Amiga, in Ciudad Juárez – founded in

1999. Unique: First crisis center for women in entire northern Mexico border zone.

Casa Amiga and FemicidioStaff focuses on issues of

domestic violence and femicide (femicidio). ◦Sexual violence, mutilation. Women

“less valuable"◦Done at night – blaming the victim.

“Bad women”Victims of femicidio: young (12-

22), employees in maquiladoras, students. Look indigenous (not native to Juárez)

Many instances of femicidio go unpunished

Femicidio

Globalization and Violence against Women

Casa Amiga makes a connection between globalization and violence against women & kids◦Both can be seen as means of

dehumanization and manifestations of alienation

◦Local community building can be used to fight against globalization and its effects

◦Femicide connected to globalization

Globalization and Violence against Women: Manifestations of Alienation on the Border

With NAFTA, many U.S. companies have moved to Mexico to avoid unionization, anti-pollution laws, etc. (maximize $)

In Mexico, they justify paying women less than men – women in maquiladoras◦Young women hired: Obedient, small

& nimble hands, flexible w/ changes & schedules

Globalization damaging families – leads to gang violence

Connection between domestic violence, violence against women, and globalization in Cd. Juárez

Domestic violence is a consequence of socioeconomic conditions caused by malignant globalization

Lifestyle changes – night life◦Women now have incomes – time and money to

spend as they please, such as in nightclub sceneAlienation = lack of community

◦Marx: without social bonds; a permanent stranger

Juárez – A city of migrantsBorder regions in general are places of

constant population flux Juárez is a city that many people flock to –

most inhabitants have not always lived in the city.

Almost all maquiladora employees in the economic boom of the mid 1990s-2001 had lived in places like Veracruz, Aguascalientes, GTO, Jalisco, Michoacán, & Querétaro – moved to Juárez to find jobs

Leads to local sense of alienation, lack of community.

Aguantar: to endure. Desmadre: w/o a mother

Demanding Accountability“Tearing down the walls upholding the

culture of impunity”Police do nothing; people assume they will

not be penalizedMexico economically dependent on outside $Casa Amiga fights back against globalization

and capitalism’s effects by:◦ Holding police accountable◦ Fighting against individualism by building

communityCulture of Solidarity: feminism and convivio

◦ “Feminist” label often leads to suspicion in Mexico

Lunchtime @ Casa Amiga: like “loaves and fishes”◦ Aliza Frame, American intern at Casa Amiga

Potluck styleBuilds commitment between the womenUnlike the US: “atomization,” individualism

◦ Neoliberal policy says that “fending for oneself” will lead to high profit margins (for the US corporations!)

ConclusionCasa Amiga = builds community

and a sense of balance between individual & community

When the community meets the needs of individuals, the individuals then owe some obligations to the community as a whole

Subtle ways of fighting the effects of globalization & the capitalist system

“New social consciousness”

Casa Amiga