Researchers highlight women’s contributions to literature

Havana, September 25. The importance of deepening critical reading of women’s contributions to literature in the Latin American region encouraged the analyzes of participants in virtual space Literary corner of the discussion, organized by the Cultural Center of the University of San Carlos in Guatemala.

While presenting the virtual lecture Gender in Art, Guatemalan scholar Josela Lopez asserted that investigating the journey and contributions of women writers, especially from Mesoamerica, opens up “areas of study that have not been explored as such”.

The Doctor of Gender Studies, a graduate of the International University of Andalusia, referred to her thesis “From Reflections to Poets”, in which it deals with changes in female identity, its record in poetry and in biographical projects of women members. In the arts group.

For the researcher, this thesis focuses on the contributions of women writers when exploring new searches for identity, which means, in many cases, proposing “a new way of being women where they are recognized and their rights respected, so as not to be erased from history, made invisible” , Saucepan.

Lopez noted that there is indeed a long way to go for a critical reading of women’s contributions to literature in the region. As an example, he referred to the construction Women at the center (2019), which brings together 52 authors from five countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica).

There is another integrative effort, he said From the margins to the center. Women writers in the literary history of Mesoamerica (2021).

Studies and contributions from Cuba

Guatemalan literature and studies expert Annette Jimenez, editor and researcher at Cuba’s Juan Marinello Institute for Cultural Research (ICIC), commented that many scholars from the island also focus on literature written by women.

For example, mentioned Luisa Campozano, who has a history of studies on women and the events she has organized for more than 20 years on issues of violence against women in Latin America.

He also cited Zida Capote and Helen Hernandez. He asserted that the latter “has important contributions to the narratives provided by women and interviews about the paths of these writers”.

Jiménez also highlighted the work of researcher Maria Antonia Miranda. She is a sociologist and is dedicated to the study of literature written by women in Latin America, Cuba, Brazil, etc. She pointed out that through the work of these writers she is conducting a sociological study of reality.

As he explained, “It relies mainly on analytical tools such as intersectionality and studies of how the variables of race, gender, age and spatial intersection, which reinforce inequalities or generate new gaps, in which women are left in a state of inequality”.

deepening the gender approach

According to the Cuban researcher, there are still important challenges in the process of recognizing women’s contributions to literature. In this regard, she noted that little is known about literature and artistic productions in general produced by women in the Caribbean.

“In the field of literature, I think the first step is to disseminate the experiences not only of women writers from previous stages, but also from the present,” she emphasized.

For Jimenez, it is essential to know what the many female researchers and academics “who chose women’s contributions to literature and art as the center of their work are doing.”

On the other hand, she emphasized the value of continuing to investigate the issues that motivate women, what motivates them to begin literature and what resources and discursive strategies they build their truths within the works they create. (2022)