Guatemala 2009

Having spent only a week in Guatemala, I came back somewhat discouraged with what I had learned and seen. Unable to contribute in any substantial way during our brief visit, I found myself continually wondering what I could do upon my return. That question, however, started to haunt me. It made me question the power of the individual and the real significance of raising awareness.

As has already been mentioned, Susan Paulson spoke to our class on 2.12.09 regarding Women's Issues in Latin America. I enjoyed how she started off the class interactively by having us identify our preconceived notions of what constitutes "women's issues" and how they would vary in Latin America versus the United States. While addressing the issue of the economic divide between genders, Paulson mentioned that as a result of indusrial capitalism in Latin America there has been a divorce between the production and reproduction system.