Becoming Farmers: Opening Spaces for Women's Resource Control in Calakmul, Mexico

A groundbreaking study on the Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Mexico, reveals that women's collective identity as farmers can challenge their traditional invisibility in agricultural roles. Through interviews with 100 women and a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, the research demonstrates how adopting transgressive farmer identities empowers women to gain greater control over resources, including land and project funds. This case study highlights the transformative potential of collective action for women in rural Latin American contexts, offering new insights into gender dynamics within agricultural communities.

Radel, C. (2011). Becoming Farmers: Opening Spaces for Women’s Resource Control in Calakmul, Mexico. Latin American Research Review, 46(2), 29–54. https://doi.org/10.1353/lar.2011.0023