Las mujeres y el poder

Blondet, Cecilia M. Las mujeres y el poder: una historia de Villa el Salvador. Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, Lima. 1991.

Using a thorough, historical explanation of the beginnings of Villa el Salvador (VES), an overnight “squatter settlement” in Lima, Peru, Blondet uses interviews and research to explore the role that women, the state, the Church and various organizations play in the development – and “improvement” – of VES.

In April of 1971, some 200 families “invaded” an urban neighborhood known as Pamplona; within the next few days, hundreds more arrived, building homes out of recycled metal, cardboard, scraps of wood and other materials. Responding to the new invasion as well as protests of the upper classes, the government decided to relocate the “invaders” and begin a “model city”; for the first time in centuries, the state was actively involved with relocating the settlers as well as providing food and water. Within the first year, community members had organized committees, carried out extensive construction and professionals had helped map out the district.

Blondet clearly emphasizes the importance of state-sponsored and local organization; the Sistema Nacional de Movilización Social (SINAMOS), as well as other organizations, involved community delegates as well as state representatives and even incited some politicians to move to VES. Referring to a chronological analysis of the political climate, Blondet is able to contextualize the origins of VES as politically and organizationally relevant. She also notes the importance of community centers and educational programs that helped mobilize and prepare much of the VES youth for later involvement in community organizations. The notion of “community” as well as the role of Church were directly linked to these educational programs.

Perhaps most relevant to my interest in VES, Blondet provides a detailed analysis of the role that women play in community organization. Not only were the women important in family decision to move from the interior to seek freedom and home-ownership, but they also recognized the need for collective participation in order to improve access to food, education and other public services; Blondet states that this is in part due to the gendered division of work, as men left VES to work in Lima and women stayed home. The Comunidad Urbana Autogestionara de Villa el Salvador (CUAVES), the Manazan and the Grupo Residencial all allowed the women to organize and identify the needs within the community. Interestingly, in order to ensure the weekly participation of community members, families were fined if atleast one member did not attend; despite the leadership role assumed by men, women actually ended up being more present during the assemblies. Despite generational differences, family resentment and an initial lack of confidence, women gaine leadership skills and a collective identity through their increasing involvement in community organizations; it also allowed women to become essential in the development of infrastructure.

In addition to community, religious, non-governmental and international organizations the female group, the Federación Popular de las Mujeres de Villa el Salvador (FEPOMUVES) is a particularly interesting aspect of the development of VES and the leadership played by women. Also, the “comedores” were public kitchens that were created by women in order to provide food for families within VES. Building on such initiatives, the Programa del Vaso de Leche was instrumental in providing a glass of milk to VES children. Of course, women played an important part in the distribution of food and milk, and despite political conflicts, by 1984, some 4,000 women were “organized” in VES. In addition to explaining the constructive efforts of community women, Blodnet also highlights the problems inherent to their involvement; not only did the women have conflicts among themselves, but the intense involvement of state politics as well as the Church proved problematic as well.

Tags: Church, community organizations, state, Villa el Salvador history, women and activism