School of Social and Political Science

Description

Join Dr Alejandra Diaz De Leon, from the University of Essex, for our seminar series on Reproductive Justice.

In this presentation, Alejandra will discuss her ethnographic research with families crossing Mexico without papers on their way to the United States. She asks how family dynamics change while experiencing the violence and uncertainty of crossing Mexico. She suggests that there are multiple ways in which people react to migration. Some men challenge the masculine patriarchal stereotypes and become more caring. Others, reacting to the loss of ownership of the space and the fear of sexual violence, limit the family’s contact with others. Conversely, women often try to build networks and use their perceived vulnerability to their advantage. This research shows how, while in transit, people and families keep changing and evolving even while gendered violence does not respect borders.

About our speaker:

Alejandra Díaz de León is a lecturer at the University of Essex. Her research focuses on Central American migration in transit through Mexico, especially how people form social ties, solidarity and trust under violent and unpredictable circumstances. She is now researching climate change and migration in Central America and Mexico.

This is an in-person event, which takes place in the Practice Suite (1.12), Chrystal Macmillan Building.

This event may be recorded. The recording will be used for internal University of Edinburgh teaching purposes only.

Aimed at colleagues from Social Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, GENDER.ED Hub, and PhD and Masters students.

The event is organised and chaired by Chiara Chiavaroli, Teaching Fellow, Social Anthropology, and Lucy Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Medical Anthropology, University of Edinburgh.