How do self-identified heterosexual Kaqchikel men in the rural areas of Sololá
attain status and power in their relationships with women? This question is explored here
by analyzing different masculine roles in various social spaces. The complexity of
masculine identity requires a meticulous analysis to assess the extent to which the
masculine role and identity has been or not a determinant factor in the social and personal
development of both women and men in the communities. This exploration also allows us
to see the different expressions of masculine identities and evaluate their current role in
society. I learned that the Kaqchikel men I interviewed find their social power and status
in part through well-established, old ideologies and belief systems, as well as their
perception of a biological superiority, which they justify by their hard work in
agricultural activities. Based on this socially constructed beliefs and practices, men
emphasize the passivity of the women and their social absence – their subordinate status
in society. However, the authority of the men is not limited to their remarkable role as
leaders and head of the households; it also encompasses pernicious acts such as domestic
violence, which is still highly prevalent in contemporary Sololá. This project also
explores these men’s perceptions about: (1) the women living in their communities, (2)
the low level of education of these women, and (3) the justice system that is still weak
and flawed. While all of these are indeed prevailing problems in the communities,
women are challenging to an extent all the practices and beliefs associated with the
authority of the men. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/26124 |
| Date | 23 September 2014 |
| Creators | Ajcalon Choy, Rigoberto |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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