Intersections of Policies and Personal Experience for Women in the Bolivian Andes (2014)

Undergraduate: Sarah Pederson

Faculty Advisor: Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld
Department: Anthropology

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In brief, my research entitled "Machismo and Mama T'allas: Intersections of Policies and Personal Experience for Women in the Bolivian Andes" presents an exploratory look into the personal and political lives of women living in rural agricultural communities in the municipality of Pocoata in the department of Norte de Potosí, Bolivia. My ethnographic style interviews center around the life histories of the women and their understanding of the current politics of the Evo Morales' administration and the perceived effects of seemingly more progressive policies related to education, female leadership, land rights, maternal/child health, and interpersonal violence prevention in their lives. My interviews include a sampling from female leaders and government workers in Pocoata who elaborated on both the progress and constraints facing women in the current political, economic, and social context. Through a diverse range of interviews, I piece together a collective story arc of the contradictions between the limitations and agency women experience in political representation, voice, and legitimate policy implementation. My research ends in a series of questions that could be probed further to explore ways that more meaningful bridges could be built between macro-level policies and the personal lives of women in this specific local of the Bolivian Andes.