The body as territory: an approach to the anti-aatriarchal struggles of indigenous women in Guatemala

Abstract

This article examines the struggles of Indigenous women in Guatemala from the perspective of the body-territory concept, as a response to multiple forms of patriarchal oppression. The main objective is to situate these struggles within a historical and social context that preserves the memory of the internal armed conflict, where the State, through its military power, exacerbated violence against women and Indigenous peoples. The article analyzes how the armed conflict and the 1996 Peace Accords were two pivotal moments for the emergence of territorial feminism, which not only focuses on the defense of women's bodies and rights but also on the care and defense of land and territory, a fundamental element in the cosmovisions of these Indigenous peoples. Methodologically, this work adopts a philosophical-documentary approach to analyze how the struggles of these women are integrally intertwined with the defense of their rights, land, and Indigenous peoples. The conclusions highlight that territorial feminism is a crucial tool for resistance against multiple forms of patriarchal and neoliberal oppression. Despite its advances, significant challenges remain in the face of the double marginalization faced by Indigenous women. The need for a situated analysis that recognizes the diversity of contexts and struggles is emphasized to more deeply understand the forms of oppression and the ways in which Indigenous women resist in the Guatemalan territory.