By Joanna Swanger Presented by Shauna Wimmer

1. Casa Amiga: Feminist Community-Building in Ciudad Juárezas an Alternative to the Structural Violence of Globalization • By Joanna Swanger • Presented by Shauna Wimmer

3. Casa Amiga • Casa Amiga, in Ciudad Juárez– founded in 1999. Unique: First crisis center for women in entire northern Mexico border zone.

4. Casa Amiga and Femicidio • Staff focuses on issues of domestic violence and femicide (femicidio). • Sexual violence, mutilation. Women “less valuable" • Done at night – blaming the victim. “Bad women” • Victims of femicidio: young (12-22), employees in maquiladoras, students. Look indigenous (not native to Juárez) • Many instances of femicidio go unpunished

5. Femicidio

6. Globalization and Violence against Women • Casa Amiga makes a connection between globalization and violence against women & kids • Both can be seen as means of dehumanization and manifestations of alienation • Local community building can be used to fight against globalization and its effects • Femicide connected to globalization

7. Globalization and Violence against Women: Manifestations of Alienation on the Border • With NAFTA, many U.S. companies have moved to Mexico to avoid unionization, anti-pollution laws, etc. (maximize $) • In Mexico, they justify paying women less than men – women in maquiladoras • Young women hired: Obedient, small & nimble hands, flexible w/ changes & schedules • Globalization damaging families – leads to gang violence

8. Connection between domestic violence, violence against women, and globalization in Cd. Juárez • Domestic violence is a consequence of socioeconomic conditions caused by malignant globalization • Lifestyle changes – night life • Women now have incomes – time and money to spend as they please, such as in nightclub scene • Alienation = lack of community • Marx: without social bonds; a permanent stranger

9. Juárez – A city of migrants • Border regions in general are places of constant population flux • Juárez is a city that many people flock to – most inhabitants have not always lived in the city. • Almost all maquiladora employees in the economic boom of the mid 1990s-2001 had lived in places like Veracruz, Aguascalientes, GTO, Jalisco, Michoacán, & Querétaro – moved to Juárez to find jobs • Leads to local sense of alienation, lack of community. • Aguantar: to endure. Desmadre: w/o a mother

10. Demanding Accountability • “Tearing down the walls upholding the culture of impunity” • Police do nothing; people assume they will not be penalized • Mexico economically dependent on outside $ • Casa Amiga fights back against globalization and capitalism’s effects by: • Holding police accountable • Fighting against individualism by building community • Culture of Solidarity: feminism and convivio • “Feminist” label often leads to suspicion in Mexico

11. Lunchtime @ Casa Amiga: like “loaves and fishes” • Aliza Frame, American intern at Casa Amiga • Potluck style • Builds commitment between the women • Unlike the US: “atomization,” individualism • Neoliberal policy says that “fending for oneself” will lead to high profit margins (for the US corporations!)

12. Conclusion • Casa Amiga = builds community and a sense of balance between individual & community • When the community meets the needs of individuals, the individuals then owe some obligations to the community as a whole • Subtle ways of fighting the effects of globalization & the capitalist system • “New social consciousness”

13. Casa Amiga