Analysis: Gender and Sexuality

Venezuela, Chavez, and the Women’s Revolution

tamara — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:56:40 +0000

Tamara Pearson - New Matilda

Some have argued that Chavez "masculinised" Venezuelan politics, yet women are everywhere to be seen in Venezuela's messy, problematic, beautiful and very joyful revolution.

Venezuela: Women and the Health of a People

ewan — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 01:42:52 +0000

Jean Araud – Sur y Sur

The author examines how in little over ten years the Bolivarian Revolution has not only attended to the population sectors that didn’t have medical services in their communities, but now these sectors are also generating their own doctors.

Venezuela: The Dangers of a Revolution against a Woman’s Right to Abortion

Rachael — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:02:03 +0000

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

In Venezuela, more people are opposed to abortion than they are to violence in a relationship. 87% of Venezuelans would criticise a 17 year old teenager deciding to get an abortion, a figure which is just slightly less than those who identify as Christian. This is not just a reflection of how strong an influence the Church still has in Venezuela, but also of how small the gains have been for women in this revolution in terms of sexual rights.

“Now is the time!”: Struggle for Sexual Diversity in Venezuela

tamara — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:37:34 +0000

Susan Spronk, Jeffery R. Webber - The Bullet

In this interview, Maria Gabriela Blanco of the Revolutionary Alliance of Sex-Gender Diversity, discusses the building of the sexual diversity movement and the obstacles faced, the meaning of 'socialism' and the importance of the upcoming elections.

Sexual Diversity Leaders on Marriage, Participation, and Homophobia in Venezuela

tamara — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:43:30 +0000

Clodosvaldo Hernandez- Ciudad CCS, Leandro Villoria and Koddy Campos

Two sexual diversity activists discuss the ups and downs in the Bolivarian revolution in terms of their rights.

Venezuela’s New Labour Law: Promoting Mutual Parental Responsibility

ewan — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:28:01 +0000

Lady Gomez - Ciudad CCS

Venezuelan newspaper Ciudad CCS explores how the country's new Labour Law will improve the labour rights of parents and promote a greater role for fathers in the upbringing of their children.

Why Do Venezuelan Women Vote for Chavez?

tamara — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:47:14 +0000

Maria Paez Victor - Counterpunch

If the the international press is to be believed, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela is a dictator, a menace to the region and is driving his country to the ground. If that is so, why do his people vote for him in landslide numbers? Why does he have an enormous following of the women of his country?

Interview: Without Socialism, There Can be No True Feminism

ewan — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:24:21 +0000

Rachael Boothroyd & Meglimar Melero , Correo del Orinoco International

An interview with feminist activist Meglimar Melero from the Insumisas Collective and the Feminist Spider network discussing the feminist movement in Venezuela today.

Venezuelan Rightwing “Crazy”: Refuses to Recognise the Protagonistic Role of Women in this Revolution

Rachael — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:55:56 +0000

Lucía Berbeo - CLARIN

“We’re telling the opposition that they are crazy, they haven’t reviewed the figures on the protagonistic role of women, and they haven’t even done their homework in order to be able follow up this line of argument. Women are more present than ever in Hugo Chavez’s government. Furthermore, our Comandante has said that women are at the vanguard, without their participation, there will be no socialist revolution”.

Chavez’s Inconsistent Feminism

ewan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:32:15 +0000

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

For a revolutionary who, on various occasions, has happily called himself a feminist, it was a sad and strange moment last week when President Hugo Chavez met with Ivian Sarcos, a Venezuelan model and Miss World 2011.

Interview with Gioconda Mota: The Fight for Abortion in Venezuela

Rachael — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:34:02 +0000

Indira Carpio Olivo, Ernesto J Navarro, Gioconda Mota

In this important interview, feminist activist Gioconda Mota discusses the state of feminism within Venezuela; the right to free and legal abortion and the contradictions of the Bolivarian process.

The “Solidarity Economy” in Venezuela: Questions and Answers

Rachael — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:18:25 +0000

Prout Research Institute of Venezuela (PRIVEN)

A translation of the questions and answers session from the panel: “Solidarity Economy in Latin America: Lessons and Possibilities from Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba", held at the first global PROUT conference in Caracas at the end of July.

Youth: The Struggle for Cultural Capital

tamara — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:33:55 +0000

Jesse Chacon - Correo del Orinoco

In this first study about the sociology of preferences we have been able to affirm the importance of the Venezuelan youth within the social spectrum as well as the deep transference of aspirations and values by previous generations to the youth.

Venezuela Hosts Global Grassroots Women’s Conference to Mark 100-year Anniversary of International Women’s Day

admin1 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:44:56 +0000

Cory Fischer-Hoffman - Upsidedownworld.org

Marking the 100 year anniversary of International Women’s Day, hundreds of women from around the world joined together in Carcas to share experiences, debate different themes, draft proposals and show support for the democratic process underway in Venezuela.

Women and Revolutionary Transformation in Venezuela

juan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:02:39 +0000

Coral Wynter - Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network

Yoly Fernandez lives in a barrio in the city of Valencia, Venezuela. She has been involved in community politics all her life and is a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), headed by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. In this interview she speaks of life for Venezuelan women during the Chavez administration.

Venezuela Should Follow Argentina's Example on Gay Rights

tamara — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:44:48 +0000

Edward Ellis - Venezuelanalysis.com

After Argentina made history yesterday morning by legalising same sex marriage, Venezuela should follow Argentina’s lead and likewise erase the legally bigoted conception of marriage as defined by a union that exists between a man and a woman only.

“To Have and To Be”: Building a Socialist-Feminist Economy in Venezuela

tamara — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:46:07 +0000

Susan Spronk, Jeffery R. Webber - The Bullet, Lidice Navas

In this interview, Navas discusses the work of the Women's Development bank, her vision of socialism, the accomplishments of the Bolivarian process so far, and what remains to be done.

"We are not Anti-American, We are Anti-Imperialism"

tamara — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:43:50 +0000

Cindy Sheehan

Sheehan, mother of a child killed in Iraq, says she went to Venezuela for two reasons; because she was tired of the misinformation about Venezuela, and to be inspired and energized.

La Revolucion Es Feminista: Reconstructing Gender in Venezuela

kiraz — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:49:08 +0000

Courtney Frantz

One of the most important aspects of the Bolivarian Revolution is also the most overlooked: that the significant majority -often 90% or more - of its participants, its leaders, and the beneficiaries of its social programs are womyn

Socialist Feminist Revival

tamara — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:53:52 +0000

Reihana Mohideen - Znet

There is a revival of socialist feminism in Latin America, spearheaded by the Venezuelan and Cuban revolutions.

Venezuela: Regarding the Discussion of the Draft Organic Law for Gender Equity and Equality

kiraz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:15:14 +0000

Jessie Blanco - Marea Socialista

Currently under discussion in the National Assembly is the draft law for gender equity and equality, although we do not know if the proposal of Romelia Matute, MP, which establishes that "everyone has the right to exercise their sexual orientation and identity freely and without discrimination, and consequently, the state shall recognize cohabitation partnerships (civil unions) between two people consisting of same sex by mutual agreement" is included.

Venezuela’s Homemakers Union: An Interview with Founder and Coordinator Lizardi Prada

tamara — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:38:51 +0000

Lizardi Prada and James Suggett – Venezuelanalysis.com

Lizardi Prada is a homemaker, the founder and general coordinator of Venezuela's first Homemakers Union, and an elected municipal council member in the city of Merida. In this interview with Venezuelanalysis.com, Prada gives unique insight into the fight for women's rights in the Venezuelan context. Prada speaks about the union's creation and day-to-day functioning, it's agenda for homemakers' rights, it's relationship to the Catholic Church, the role of class, the balance between autonomy from and support for the government, men's and women's reactions to the union, and abortion.

Gender Advance in Venezuela: A Two-Pronged Affair

greg — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:57:20 +0000

George Gabriel - OpenDemocracy.net

Though the last decade of Hugo Chávez's "socialist democratic" government has never been far from the media spotlight, key elements of the proclaimed Bolivarian process have been overlooked: chiefly the struggle for female emancipation.

Chávez on Gender - Advances and Challenges

greg — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:19:59 +0000

George Gabriel

President Chávez's article in Sunday's edition of respected Venezuelan Daily, Ultimas Noticias, titled "Woman, Woman, Woman" demonstrates not only his incredible skill at creating an emotionally powerful narrative, but many of the contradictory dynamics in which the struggle for female liberation in Venezuela is located.

Venezuela: Material Girls

greg — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:01:24 +0000

Yovita Vera and Cheryl Gallagher - The Guardian Weekly

In the wake of International Women's Day, Yovita Vera, 55, who received the programme's support to set up a sewing cooperative, shares her hope that one day all Venezuelan women can work for themselves.

Limited Shelter for Women

greg — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:39:19 +0000

Humberto Marquez - IPS

Fed up with her partner's beatings late one night, Josefina decided to leave. But where could she go at that time of night, when she lived in such a dangerous area? Her neighbourhood, a shanty town in the Venezuelan capital, is effectively controlled by gangs that resort to shootouts to settle their differences.

Gender in Venezuela

greg — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:34:37 +0000

Jenny Marl Torres, Yoari Garbrido & George Gabriel

The Meridenian Institute for Women and the Family is tasked with helping protect women and children from abuse and challenging sexist gender stereotypes in Venezuela. An interview with two of its organizers.

Venezuela Has A Woman’s Face

greg — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:52:49 +0000

Jessie Blanco

Venezuela is a beautiful land with 26 million habitants, around 49.6% of which are women, with the highest rate of teen pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean, where 100% of women have suffered gender violence.

Women Propel Venezuela’s Revolution Forward

jan — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 03:10:22 +0000

Elena Mora - People's Weekly World

While millions of poor and working-class people have since benefited from the Chavez government’s public works projects, social programs, and efforts to involve ordinary people in building a new society, women have benefited the most.