User:Haleyfallin/sandbox

History[edit | edit source]

During Pinochet's dictatorship throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, coalitions and federations of women's groups—not all of which necessarily designated themselves in name as feminists—gathered in kitchens, living rooms, and other non-political arenas to devise strategies of bringing down the dictator's rule. Because political movements, mostly male-dominated, were oppressed nearly out of existence during the dictatorship, women gathered in a political manner outside of what was traditionally male. Through this they created grassroots organizations such as Moviemento pro emancipacio de la Mujer that is credited with directly influencing the downfall of Pinochet.^[5] Pinochet's rule also involved mass exile—an estimation of over 200,000 by 1980. While Chilean women were living in exile in Vancouver, Canada, a feminist magazine created by Latinas, called Aquelarre began to circulate widely.^[6]

Today, the Chilean women's movements continue to advocate for their rights and participation in all levels of the democratic society and through Non-Governmental Organizations. However, a large political barrier for women was broken when Michelle Bachelet became Chile's first female president. Laura Albornoz was also delegated as Minister of Women's Affairs during Bachelet's first term as President. This position's duties includes running the "Servicio Nacional de la Mujer" or the National Women's Service. This organization's goal is to promote gender equality in the social, economic, political, cultural, and familial spheres of everyday life (Richards, 2003, 42). The success of this organization is debated, but it has made substantial moves to publicize the issues women face across Chile.