Speech notes:
We can’t talk about globalization without realizing how significant the role of women is in the global economy, whether in Mexico’s efforts to modernize more and get into the First World or throughout the world.
Law and public policy’s role in perpetuating a feminized poverty and the oppression of women in a global economy –
At the border it’s about immigration law and free trade policy – I have argued in a critical legal analysis that they work hand in hand – the one creates an open border for investors; the other closes the border to the migrant laborer- the Border Patrol becomes militarized, heavily funded by the Reagan, Clinton and now Bush administrations, especially with the post-September 11th call for national security; the consequence is human rights abuses or the simple human life consequences of lives lost by those trying to avoid militarized borders. Meanwhile free trade investors are secured a constant supply of cheap exploitable labor.
The importance of developing a critical theory to accompany the discourse of globalization. If there is one view of globalization that is coming from the perspective of the economic forum and the investors or the Bush administration and his cronies, there has to be a stronger discourse developed by those who either speak on behalf of the global subject or who are committed to actual efforts to empower the global subject.
One example of the empowerment activities is happening in the context of labor struggles. The labor struggles in the maquiladoras is a battle in some factories by women against men. The conflict that happened in the Duro Bag Factory, a company that makes Hallmark cards and gift and shopping bags, resulted in crushing a union of women who managed to get enough votes to put themselves on the ballot as an alternative to the corrupt CTM union. But thuggery, the burning of the house of an activist, a nd a vote that took place under the veil of threats and intimidation kept women out of power.
Importance of popular education. Some workers in the maquiladoras have learned the importance of educating themselves and each other on what their rights are under La Ley Federal del Trabajo- a constitutional document that reads more liberally than American labor laws. Their tactics and strategies are classic illustrations of the power of grass roots activism. Many of these individuals who become leaders in the maquiladoras barely have an 8th grade level education, yet because their teachers are experience and they bring that experience and their voices into community in workshops. These are put together by an organization called the Comite Fronterizo de Obreras, whose trainers adopt the philosophy of Paolo Freire, that is of empowerment of the workers. I have sat in reuniones and encuentros with these workers and been amamazed at their humility, their courage, their strength in overcoming shyness, their resilience in fighting back after incredible defeats. We could learn a lot from them.
A feminist perspective – Yesterday I talked about sexual terrorism. My work with women at the border is decidedly feminist. It means that I want to look at law and public policy or the social or human condition by starting with the experience of women. I like to use gender as a category of analysis because gender is another border in people’s lives, as is sexuality, as it the power held over people who are in one gender role or another or who don’t conform to one set of gender rules or another.
Humanity, humanitarianism and Intellectual Activism. It is not easy to try to hold one foot in the world of ivory towers and talking heads as Lupe likes to say and in the world of grass roots activism and confrontations with real people with lots of power to hurt you or your friends (like my friends at the border). But I do think it is essential to do so. I formed Women on the Border because I wanted to be able to do more than just gather a few stories about people and then get them into an article and then leave it there, inside of a writing that no one might use. What I now do with the interviews is try to write shorter and more accessible stories that can be found on the website. We already have a few. Here’s an example of the ways in which my work does satisfy the activist in me. A representative of an international human rights group has a Mexico Border Project – they are going to use two of my short essays for a booklet they are putting together in Spanish for workers in the maquiladoras. Now that satisfies me. Those stories use the voices of workers; the worker who reads the story will learn that she is not alone.
- Finally, education is about empowerment. Whether we educate ourselves or others about this stuff we contribute to empowerment. I want to introduce you to some of the people I meet through my work and how they illustrate for me the power of popular education –
- Juany Lopez – 9 years now an activist; she astonishes me even in the presence of other lawyers; she can quote the law and she interprets situations with workers. Yet when I first met her she told me how shy she used to be. She was like many stereotyped humble worker without education; afraid to even look you in the eyes. Developed confidence.
- Julia Quiñones – began to work in the maquiladoras at the age of 15 _ today she speaks with governmental leaders and journalists from all over the world – her message is simple – we ask that you just listen to the workers – as to what they struggle for – just respect the law; it is simple.
Maria Elena Garcia – Reynosa – went to the People’s Summit in Quebec last year to try to make the point that globalization is hurting women and workers. She illustrated for me the health impact ….
Paty Leyva – spontaneous abortion – lost her first baby – committed now to working with others to educate them and show them they do not have to accept the mistreatment and that some of it may be preventable or illegal.
SPEECH NOTES DELIVERED BY ELVIA ARRIOLA, law professor and director for Women on the Border FOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHICANO STUDIES, MARCH 29, 2002, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.