What do you think?
Rate this book
Una lectura feminista de la deuda: ¡Vivas, libres y desendeudadas nos queremos!
***Winner of an English PEN Award 2021***
In this sharp intervention, authors Lucí Cavallero and Verónica Gago defiantly develop a feminist understanding of debt, showing its impact on women and members of the LGBTQ+ community and examining the relationship between debt and social reproduction.
Exploring the link between financial activity and the rise of conservative forces in Latin America, the book demonstrates that debt is intimately linked to gendered violence and patriarchal notions of the family. Yet, rather than seeing these forces as insurmountable, the authors also show ways in which debt can be resisted, drawing on concrete experiences and practices from Latin America and around the world.
Featuring interviews with women in Argentina and Brazil, the book reveals the real-life impact of debt and how it falls mainly on the shoulders of women, from the household to the wider effects of national debt and austerity. However, through discussions around experiences of work, prisons, domestic labour, agriculture, family, abortion and housing, a narrative of resistance emerges. Translated by Liz Mason-Deese.
In this sharp intervention, authors Lucí Cavallero and Verónica Gago defiantly develop a feminist understanding of debt, showing its impact on women and members of the LGBTQ+ community and examining the relationship between debt and social reproduction.
Exploring the link between financial activity and the rise of conservative forces in Latin America, the book demonstrates that debt is intimately linked to gendered violence and patriarchal notions of the family. Yet, rather than seeing these forces as insurmountable, the authors also show ways in which debt can be resisted, drawing on concrete experiences and practices from Latin America and around the world.
Featuring interviews with women in Argentina and Brazil, the book reveals the real-life impact of debt and how it falls mainly on the shoulders of women, from the household to the wider effects of national debt and austerity. However, through discussions around experiences of work, prisons, domestic labour, agriculture, family, abortion and housing, a narrative of resistance emerges. Translated by Liz Mason-Deese.
96 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2019
25 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 13, 2025
The biggest deficiency of this book is the lack of empirical data. Moreover, the relationship between debt and capitalism is not adequately developed: debt is treated in isolation, rather than as one mechanism among many within capitalism as a totality. I would argue that the core problem is not debt itself, but capitalism as a whole.
There is also conceptual confusion regarding productive and reproductive labor, perhaps due to the influence of Silvia Federici. A more coherent and convincing account of the distinction between productive and reproductive labor can be found in the work of Lise Vogel. In several places, the book claims that housework (reproductive labor) is productive. However, housework cannot be understood as productive labor, since it does not produce surplus value, but only use value. This, however, does not mean that reproductive labor is less important than productive labor.
There is also conceptual confusion regarding productive and reproductive labor, perhaps due to the influence of Silvia Federici. A more coherent and convincing account of the distinction between productive and reproductive labor can be found in the work of Lise Vogel. In several places, the book claims that housework (reproductive labor) is productive. However, housework cannot be understood as productive labor, since it does not produce surplus value, but only use value. This, however, does not mean that reproductive labor is less important than productive labor.
June 26, 2025
o lectură foarte necesară în aceste vremuri (mi-am luat iar paranoia financiară. the horrors persist but so do i)
December 18, 2021
An OK, but disappointing read, which had lots of potential on the surface
The book's foreword states that the feminist perspective on debt allows the authors to powerfully weave together issues of sexist violence and economic violence in the same interpretive frame, however I felt the vast majority of the book failed to live up to this as although examples are offered, primarily Argentina-focused, a more general, clearer analysis is not found
I did think the book did well in exploring the idea of financial inclusion and showing how it seeks to cover up forms of financial exploitation, especially by targeting women who are understood as "natural" entrepreneurs, whereas a feminist response refuses this stating: women are nether victims nor entrepreneurs
Another topic the book does well in tackling is "financial education" and the growing call to include it as part of the curriculum in schools, compared to sexual education, which continues to be attacked as "gender ideology"
The book goes further in extending an argument against education establishments that criminalises education with a feminist perspective, that do so because it opens an elaboration of desire that suspends the mandate of the heteropatriarchal family as the only possible destiny for the lives of adolescents and children
The book's foreword states that the feminist perspective on debt allows the authors to powerfully weave together issues of sexist violence and economic violence in the same interpretive frame, however I felt the vast majority of the book failed to live up to this as although examples are offered, primarily Argentina-focused, a more general, clearer analysis is not found
I did think the book did well in exploring the idea of financial inclusion and showing how it seeks to cover up forms of financial exploitation, especially by targeting women who are understood as "natural" entrepreneurs, whereas a feminist response refuses this stating: women are nether victims nor entrepreneurs
Another topic the book does well in tackling is "financial education" and the growing call to include it as part of the curriculum in schools, compared to sexual education, which continues to be attacked as "gender ideology"
The book goes further in extending an argument against education establishments that criminalises education with a feminist perspective, that do so because it opens an elaboration of desire that suspends the mandate of the heteropatriarchal family as the only possible destiny for the lives of adolescents and children
June 11, 2025
Se zicea ceva despre comuniștii care se apuca să citească economie ca să se certe cu liberalii. Cartea asta e mult mai deșteaptă decât mine, dar până la final am fost și eu mai deșteaptă decât înainte!
"Debt is a way of managing the crisis: nothing explodes but everything implodes. Inwards, in families, in households, in workplaces, in neighborhoods, financial obligation makes relationships become increasingly fragile and precarious due to the permanent pressure of debt. The structure of mass indebtedness that has existed for over a decade is what gives us clues to the current form taken by the crisis: as an individual responsibility, as an increase in so-called "domestic" violence, as a greater precarization of existence."
"Debt is a way of managing the crisis: nothing explodes but everything implodes. Inwards, in families, in households, in workplaces, in neighborhoods, financial obligation makes relationships become increasingly fragile and precarious due to the permanent pressure of debt. The structure of mass indebtedness that has existed for over a decade is what gives us clues to the current form taken by the crisis: as an individual responsibility, as an increase in so-called "domestic" violence, as a greater precarization of existence."
September 30, 2023
(If you’ve read the first edition of this book and were unimpressed, give the second one a go, it’s brilliant)
I was looking forward to reading this book for almost half a year now, and while the theoretical part wasn’t as broad as I hoped for, the history of women’s movements and the inclusion of interviews and manifestos in the second edition more than made up for it.
I was looking forward to reading this book for almost half a year now, and while the theoretical part wasn’t as broad as I hoped for, the history of women’s movements and the inclusion of interviews and manifestos in the second edition more than made up for it.
April 18, 2024
A good read to familiarize yourself with an angle of the Argentinean/South American economic life. The book succeeded to deliver a bit of its title promise “a feminist reading of debt”. I say a bit because it delivered feminist and debt. I disagree it delivered a “reading” but more of a “a feminist statement of debt”. Reading promises an analysis, a wide perspective, a challenge, an interest and then a conclusion. This book delivered one sided narratives of stories and concluded the result with almost zero analysis or engagement.
In the end, it feels like a justified feminist scream of the struggles of Argentinean women and a shout out celebration of some success stories.
I was pondering to rate the book based on content only (2) or give it a 3 to boost the legitimate cause despite the content. This was before I read the interview section. However, reading the “questions” in the that sections felt so lame, shallow, directed and extracting sympathy. (not even empathy) I had hoped for deeper more analytical, objective questions that walks the reader through an unknown territory. As an example on those questions, this was the last question in the interview section: “so the role of the bank was only to make threats, as well as the bank collects the bills?”. The book failed to engage me with the analysis (there was none), yet, it succeeded to give me little information about the struggle in south America. It is such a shame the book didn’t rise to the expectation.
In the end, it feels like a justified feminist scream of the struggles of Argentinean women and a shout out celebration of some success stories.
I was pondering to rate the book based on content only (2) or give it a 3 to boost the legitimate cause despite the content. This was before I read the interview section. However, reading the “questions” in the that sections felt so lame, shallow, directed and extracting sympathy. (not even empathy) I had hoped for deeper more analytical, objective questions that walks the reader through an unknown territory. As an example on those questions, this was the last question in the interview section: “so the role of the bank was only to make threats, as well as the bank collects the bills?”. The book failed to engage me with the analysis (there was none), yet, it succeeded to give me little information about the struggle in south America. It is such a shame the book didn’t rise to the expectation.
Read
September 3, 2025si bien sentí una falta de datos y poca rigurosidad metodológica. esta lectura pone en cuestión la relevancia de mirar el cómo, por qué y en qué los cuerpos feminizados se endeudan. endeudarse para comer o para salud.
además, pienso en la esfera aspiracional de la deuda, que es esta especie de orgullo que he logrado percibir donde la gente parece señalar orgullo porque estas bancarizado y porque tu banco te ofrece millones en créditos de consumo.
además, pienso en la esfera aspiracional de la deuda, que es esta especie de orgullo que he logrado percibir donde la gente parece señalar orgullo porque estas bancarizado y porque tu banco te ofrece millones en créditos de consumo.
September 7, 2025
Way, way too surface level an investigation to such an important subject. I was really, really disappointed by this, especially given the incredibly high quality of the rest of the mapping social reproduction theory series, even if some of the general points made do suggest important theoretical insights in a lot of ways.
March 23, 2024
La lucha contra la deuda es la lucha contra el patriarcado. En este libro se ejemplifican las maneras en que la deuda, ese monstruo transparente y abstracto, se ha entrometido en las finanzas personales y acecha la vida cotidiana de la mujer como forma de sumisión. No es secreto que la violencia económica tiene rostro de mujer, sin embargo es aún un tabú que debe ser visibilizado.
August 7, 2024
Un muy buen primer acercamiento para entender la deuda y las finanzas atravesadas por el género.
“Los aportes que me faltan los tiene el patriarcado”. Lo resume bastante.
Me llevo de todo para mi tesis.
“Los aportes que me faltan los tiene el patriarcado”. Lo resume bastante.
Me llevo de todo para mi tesis.
December 7, 2022
Da leggere
April 10, 2023
Did I learn much from this book? No. And it was expensive
May 9, 2024
Another "buy for my shelf because I want to refer to it constantly" book.
December 29, 2024
Buena crítica pero me molesta que es anti-clasista y no anti-capitalista.
July 8, 2021
Important, though I feel like there were points where it could have been a bit more concrete. Overall, recommended for all feminists, despite the fact that much of the book is focused on the Argentinian context of debt.
November 24, 2020
Una lectura feminista de la deuda busca visibilizar y problematizar el tema de la deuda financiera y subrayar cómo esta impacta de manera diferente a las mujeres, lesbianas y trans. Las autoras Luci Cavallero y Verónica Gago mencionan las formas en que el endeudamiento no homogeniza diferencias como la orientación sexual, la raza y los géneros, entre otros, sino que las explota. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
El Estado, el mayor propulsor de la deuda, utiliza la bancarización obligatoria enmascarada como “inclusión financiera” para brindarles préstamos a personas marginadas. No obstante, estos préstamos vienen acompañados de intereses altos dado a la habilidad de pago, que en muchos casos es inestable. Las escritoras hablan sobre casos en que las personas terminaron pagando el doble del monto principal en intereses; un ejemplo de la manera en que esta dinámica se vuelve un círculo vicioso que propulsa la desigualdad económica.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Luego de indagar en lo que significa y representa la deuda, las escritoras incluyen entrevistas a distintas mujeres. Los relatos narran el impacto de la deuda a la salud mental y física por el deber de generar más dinero para pagar. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
También detallan como las mujeres en la cárcel deben seguir generando dinero dentro de las cárceles ya que sus deudas las sigue esperando cuando salgan.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
El propósito de este libro es ser utilizado como una guía con la cual otras colectivas alrededor del mundo puedan repensar la deuda. Este incluye manifiestos de movimientos tales como #NiUnaMenos y #YoNoFui al igual que ejemplos de como otros grupos (#OccupyWallSt) se manifestaron en contra de propuestas capitalistas similares. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Es un libro breve, pero profundo en contenido (se lee rapidito). Se escribió pensado en Argentina; no obstante, encontré que se puede aplicar a la situación de muchos países, en especial en Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Vale la pena leerlo para discutir y reflexionar. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sígueme en Instagram (@libro.filia) para más. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
El Estado, el mayor propulsor de la deuda, utiliza la bancarización obligatoria enmascarada como “inclusión financiera” para brindarles préstamos a personas marginadas. No obstante, estos préstamos vienen acompañados de intereses altos dado a la habilidad de pago, que en muchos casos es inestable. Las escritoras hablan sobre casos en que las personas terminaron pagando el doble del monto principal en intereses; un ejemplo de la manera en que esta dinámica se vuelve un círculo vicioso que propulsa la desigualdad económica.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Luego de indagar en lo que significa y representa la deuda, las escritoras incluyen entrevistas a distintas mujeres. Los relatos narran el impacto de la deuda a la salud mental y física por el deber de generar más dinero para pagar. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
También detallan como las mujeres en la cárcel deben seguir generando dinero dentro de las cárceles ya que sus deudas las sigue esperando cuando salgan.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
El propósito de este libro es ser utilizado como una guía con la cual otras colectivas alrededor del mundo puedan repensar la deuda. Este incluye manifiestos de movimientos tales como #NiUnaMenos y #YoNoFui al igual que ejemplos de como otros grupos (#OccupyWallSt) se manifestaron en contra de propuestas capitalistas similares. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Es un libro breve, pero profundo en contenido (se lee rapidito). Se escribió pensado en Argentina; no obstante, encontré que se puede aplicar a la situación de muchos países, en especial en Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Vale la pena leerlo para discutir y reflexionar. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sígueme en Instagram (@libro.filia) para más. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews