Never Again a World Without Us: Voices of Mayan Women in Chiapas, Mexico

by Teresa Ortiz, Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean Staff (Produced by)

Travel with Teresa Ortiz from the highlands to the rainforest of Chiapas, Mexico and listen to what indigenous women are telling her about their lives. Ortiz lays out her own perspective to the reader, helps to set their hopes and struggles in the midst of a hidden war.

Genres: Nonfiction

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[CTEP]

When I discovered that my CTEP supervisor, Teresa Ortiz, had written a book I was very interested to find out more. Her book, Never Again a World Without Us, explores the lives of indigenous Mayan peoples, particularly women,before and in the wake of social and political upheaval in southern Mexico. In 1994, as the North American Free Trade Agreement was taking effect, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, comprised of poor and indigenous campesinos, committed an incredible act of resistance by taking and occupy several towns in southern Mexico. This bold action helped to begin to change the centuries long narrative of oppression and abuse suffered by indigenous peoples in Mexico. Teresa’s book balances well-researched historical context of events, personal reflection, and most notably, personal one-on-one interviews with individual activists, artists, organizers, and particularly, everyday members of various indigenous communities. The title of the book aptly reflects the indigenous people’s refusal to remain marginalized and discounted by the present political and social norms. It also reflects further, the stance of indigenous women who are asserting their right to have their voices heard not only at a national level as members of this indigenous movement, but also within their own communities, challenging traditional male-dominated roles and social structures.

I would highly recommend this book to any members who perhaps work with hispanic populations, and are interested in gaining further insight into important social and historical events of the last 20 years in Latin America. I think it would also be of interest to anyone with interest in community organizing. The book traces the development of a number of different community organizations and cooperatives, discussing both the context in which they were organized, as well how they were able to organize.

For me personally, reading this book was certainly a great way to discover something new about my supervisor. Before reading this book, I already had a keen interest in the Zapatista movement, indigenous rights, and Latin American social movements in general. I think that reading this book creates a great space for me to have conversations with my supervisor and learn from her experiences. As well, as mentioned above, the book deals with the subject of community organizing, and gives me a greater understanding of what it means to organize community, and how it is done, particularly under trying circumstances.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exploration of women's lives in Chiapas, Mexico.