"Un Violador en Tu Camino" A Postcolonial and Feminist Analysis of Contemporary Chilean Feminist Movements
Open AccessThis thesis examines how feminist movements shape gender policy. I argue that Chilean feminist movements have been instrumental in shaping progressive gender policy, underscoring women's vital role in resistance, mobilization, and protest. This analysis focuses explicitly on Chilean feminist movements and policies that confront the global crises of violence against women (VAW) and femicide. This research contributes to a developing body of intersectional research that examines how feminist mobilization and resistance generate new political agendas. Previous research has not analyzed the contributions of the "Un Violador en Tu Camino" ("A Rapist in Your Path") anthem to the feminist movements challenging state violence. Additionally, this analysis evaluates the legislation and government response sparked by the movements.Using a feminist and postcolonial theoretical framework, I find that gender and locality are primary orienting principles in the movement's ideologies and demands. This finding is evident in the Chilean feminist anthem, "Un Violador en Tu Camino," which is fundamentally rooted in the feminist theory and anti-statism. The anthem demands the Chilean state to claim responsibility and accountability for Chilean women's violence and deaths. First performed in Chile, the anthem and performance quickly became viral and spread from France, Mexico to Kenya and India, igniting a global feminist movement against violence. Each chapter of this research highlights vital themes that contribute to a thorough understanding of the social and policy impact of Chilean feminist movements. Chapter Two provides the significant themes and an overview of literature used to inform this research. Chapter Three describes the methodological approach used to develop this research. Chapter Four examines the significant Chilean feminist movements. Beginning with President Salvador Allende's socialist government, 1970-1973, and General Augusto Pinochet's military government, 1973-1990, the two most divisive periods in Chile. However, the primary research will focus on the contemporary feminist movements, Ni Una Menos ("Not One Woman Less"), Mayo Feminista, ("Feminist May"), and "Un Violador en Tu Camino," ("A Rapist in Your Path"), confronting VAW and femicide. Building from the non-indigenous feminist movements, Chapter Five examines the indigenous Mapuche women's movement, which addressing ecological rights, gender rights, and human rights violations perpetrated by the Chilean state. The examination of the Mapuche women highlights the unique and controversial relationship of the Chilean state. The accumulation of the feminist movements, Chapter Six examines and critiques the recent government shifts to a gender- agenda and policy advancements. Lastly, Chapter Seven presents' recommendations for future research, significant takeaways, and theoretical implications. This study provides new insight into the intersectional fabric within feminist movements and resistance in Chile. The implications of this research will contribute to the growing body of knowledge of the impacts of feminist mobilization on gender policies. Chilean women have maintained a presence in the advancement of gender policy and legislation. The findings of this research support the vital social and political contributions of women's mobilization and resistance.
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