Mining, Return Migration and Gender in the Peruvian Andes: Belonging in a Transforming "Comunidad Campesina"

This ethnographic book explores mining, return migration, and gender in a Peruvian peasant community, highlighting how belonging is a marker of social hierarchies and influenced by gender inequalities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2018
Publisher: Peter Lang AG

This ethnographic book delves into the intricate dynamics of mining, return migration, and gender within a Peruvian comunidad campesina, a rural community undergoing significant transformations due to a mining project. Over time, this comunidad experienced a multitude of changes, one of which was the introduction of a two-tier membership system. This shift in membership criteria altered the community's perception of belonging and excluded individuals who previously considered themselves integral members. Through a combination of fieldwork, participant observation, interviews, and life stories, the author conducts a thorough analysis of how the comunidad interpreted these mining-induced transformations, how their concept and functions of community were altered, and why belonging emerged as a central concern.

Drawing from her research, the author reveals how belonging serves as a marker of social hierarchies and is intricately influenced by gender inequalities. She explores how the mining project impacted the social structures and relationships within the comunidad, leading to the emergence of new hierarchies and power dynamics. Moreover, she sheds light on the ways in which gender norms and stereotypes shaped individuals' experiences of belonging and their ability to navigate the changing social landscape.

Through its rich and detailed account, this ethnographic book provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between mining, return migration, and gender in rural communities. It sheds light on the ways in which these factors shape individuals' lives, relationships, and sense of identity, and highlights the need for policies and interventions that promote inclusive and equitable development in these contexts.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 154 x 215 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783631764862
Edition number: New ed