Mostrando mensaje 4030     < Anterior | Siguiente > Responder a este mensaje Asunto: [RedLuz] Gay Times in Oaxaca: Changing Celebrations of Third Gender Fecha: Lunes, 8 de Octubre, 2007  20:52:45 (-0500) Autor: Proyecto Interredes <lacasadelared @.....com> Gay Times in Oaxaca: Changing Celebrations of Third Gender Brenda Maiale Department of Anthropology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA Muxe have long been considered members of a third gender among the Isthmus Zapotecs of Oaxaca, Mexico. Although they do not claim to be women, muxe refer to themselves as feminine (afeminado) and are generally employed in female vocations, often wear traditional female dress, and take the passive role with men they choose as sex partners. Historically muxe were accepted as a well-integrated and legitimate part of Zapotec culture. However, Zapotec gender subjectivities have begun to undergo dramatic change in the last fifteen years. Transnational attention to the many political and economic crises which affected the nation and the concurrent introduction of technologies such as the internet have facilitated communication within and across the Mexican national border. Muxe can now participate on-line in global gay rights campaigns, AIDS outreach programs, pan-Latin America gay chat rooms, sergay.com and other guides to Mexico's gay activities, and regional forums such as the newly created gayoaxaca.com. Muxe groups in Oaxaca use internet chat rooms and bulletin boards to post activities such as the muxe-sponsored fiestas which take place in Oaxaca City and the Isthmus every few months. Although these parties began as a means to celebrate muxe as a feminine Zapotec subjectivity which derived its significance from traditional culture, activities at more recent parties suggest that muxe have begun to redefine and reposition themselves in line with global frameworks and Western-derived discourses on homosexuality and gay rights. In this paper, I analyze the significance of changes in muxe fiesta structure and dressing practices for the re-negotiation of muxe gender and sexuality in light of heightened global connectivity. At parties muxe held several years ago, they dressed like their mothers and sisters in traditional traje, and the structure of the events deviated little from standard fiesta structure. At recent fiestas, muxe wear sexually revealing clothes and often don corsets and mini skirts cut from traditional dress, angering many Zapotec women. At these events drag shows are common features and condoms and lubricant are given out in addition to the standard gifts from the hosts. These practices suggest a transition from celebrating muxe gender to celebrating muxe sexuality. The emphasis on sexual practice also suggests a new role for the body, and indeed many muxe are now cultivating a leaner, harder look in contrast to the former ideal which emulated the plump, full-bottomed Zapotec woman. As muxe call attention to their bodily differences and move away from sharing gender roles with women, women now view muxe practices with suspicion, and nascent homophobia is present in regions of Oaxaca in which a third gender role had been well accepted. Western discourses emphasize personal appearance and bodily expression as primary markers of gender. As muxe gender is constructed and negotiated in line with these new frameworks, they no longer easily fit older, local frameworks which define gender as an effect of production and domestic activity. An analysis of this contestation yield key insights into the intersection of local and global sexualities and gender identification. http://enkidumagazine.com/art/2005/250205/E_009_250205.htm -- CASA DE LA RED www.casadelared.com RED IBEROAMERICANA DE LUZ www.mind-surf.net/redluzcalendario.htm www.elistas.net/lista/redluz www.redluz-ci.org RED MEXICANA DE CONCIENCIA www.redconciencia.org.mx PROYECTO INTERREDES www.egrupos.net/grupo/interredes www.interredes.org RED ANAHUAK www.elistas.net/lista/redanahuak GRUPOS DE ACTIVACION PLANETARIA www.elistas.net/foro/gap ALGUNOS ENLACES www.aztlan.org.mx www.bigbangmex.unam.mx www.ivanillich.org www.alfilodelarealidad.com.ar www.despiertamexico.com www.hoycommunity.org http://espiritualidadypolitica.blogspot.com/ -------------------------------- VIII Encuentro Iberoamericano de Luz ACONCAGUA 2007 Uspallata, Octubre 19-22 www.redluzargentina.com.ar www.egrupos.net/grupo/redluzargentina Informes e inscripciones: alicia.contursi@... Suma tu voz al nuevo viento! -------------------------------- -~--------------------------------------------------------------------~- -~--------------------------------------------------------------------~-