Some Thoughts on New Epistemologies in Latin American Feminisms

Abstract

The Chapter explores the current Latin American “dialogue of knowledges” that is forming new spaces in which to discuss body politics among individuals and social movements coming from women`s indigenous movements, Afro-Latinas, youth, sexual dissidence movements. In these dialogues, sexuality remains complex dimension, resisted and contested. In discussing the differences, the chapter looks at significant points of affinity and difference as ‘body politics’ is helping a “translation” of different perspectives. It shows how “the body as a territory” is emerging as a discourse that connects indigenous women’s movements in their struggle for territory. The fight against racism by Afro-Latina women’s movements challenges how their bodies are denigrated. A new view of gender is provided by transvestites and by transgender women in the struggle against homophobia and heternormativity.³