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RURAL WOhEECN--MEXICO'S 'COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE*?; LIVED EXPERIENCES OF ECONOMIC RESTRUC:TUKING IN TWO PUEBLA EJIDQS Kerry Lynne Preibisch B.A., Simon Fraser University THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS in the Depztment of Spanish and LaLl American Studies O Kerry Lynne Preibisch 1996 SIMON FMSER UNIVERSITY July 1996 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. t.latmal Library Bibliotheque natiorlele 1*1 of~anada du Canada Acyuis%ons and Direction des acquisitions et 61bl;cgraphicServices Branch des services bibliclgraphiques Your Me Votre reference Our hle NoNe reMrence The author has granted an L'auteur a accorde une licence irrevocable non-exclusive licence irrevocable et non exclusive allowing the National Library of permettant a la Bibliotheque Canada to reproduce, loan, nationale du Canada de distribute or self copies of reproduire, prGter, distribuer ou his/her thesis by any means and vendrc des copies de sa these in any form or format, makirtg de quelque maniere et sous this thesis avaifable to interested quelque forme que ce soit pour persons. mettre des exernplaires de cette these a la disposition des personnes interessbes. The author retains ownership of L'auteur conserve la propriete du the copyright in his/her thesis. droit d'auteur qui protege sa Neither the thesis nor substantial these. Ni la these ni des extraits extracts from it may be printed or substantiels de celle-ci ne otherwise reproduced without doivent Btre imprimes ou his/her permission. autrement reproduits sans son - autorisation. ISBN 0-612-17061-6 PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser Uriiversi the right to lend my thesis, pro'ect or extended essay (the title oB which is shown below) to users ot' the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university. or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Title of Thesis/Project/Extended Essay RURAL wrw - I?~MICO'S"CCWARATIVE ADVANTAGE# : I IVED EXPERIENCES OF ECONOF.IIC RESTRUCTURING IN TWO PUEBLA EJ IDOS, Author- (signattire) APPROVAL Name: Keny Preibisch Degree: ,Master of Arts Title: Rural Women--Mexico's Comparative Advantage"? Lived Experiences of Economic Restructuring in Two Puebla Ejidos Examining Committee: Acting Chair: Rita De Grandis Associate Professor, SLAS Senior Supervisor Marilyn Gates Associate Professor, SLAS - Gerddo Otero Supervisor Associate Professor, SLAS -- Cathy Nesrnitfr Assistant Professor Geography External Examine1 Date Approved: \a ABSTRACT Since Mexico's neotikral economic restructuring begail, the agrici~lt~tr~alst.iinr 113s been subject to a number of far-reaching reforms. This thesis focuses on I\;lesic;~n agricultural policy and the livea realities of rural women in two conmunities during the administration of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994). Recent research has called for an examination of state initiatives to transform the agricultural sector in terms of gender, pointing out that rural women are experiencing some of the most 11egilti~~ consequences of growing economic and social inequality. These have included the feminization of subsistence agriculture, as women farmers compensate fir maic emigration, or the feminization of rural labour markets with the growth of export agriculture seeking 'cheap'labour as their comparative advantage in the world market. To shed light on the local realities often ignored in macro-level analysis, research was carried out in two rural communities in the State of Puebla: one located in a region where basic grains are cultivated for mainly subsistence needs and the other in an area geared to commercial agriculture. This contrast provides sketches of the peasant production discouraged by the Government of Mexico as no longer "competitive" (basic grains) and the "comparative advantage" alternative posed (higher value crops relianr on cheap labour). The ethnographic fiejd research involved participant observation techniques, the completion of questionnaires, and in-depth interviews with a group ol' residents from each community. This thesis contributes to research on gender and the current phase of restructuring, not only to measure differential impacts for men and women, but to expose increasing gender inequality as a concomitant to restructuring. A central theoretical concern, thus, is the role of gender in the organization of production and labour for capital accumulation in those regions where a peasantry, articulated to meet the needs of capital, persists. Key areas for discussion include the intensification of rural women's work load accompanying rising emigration to national and international labour markets, the impact of the growth of export floriculture on the lives of the women workers, and diverse rural responses to changes in agrarian policy under neoliberalism. This thesis is dedicated to my family, whose love and support made this project possible, to Gramma, for her own stories of the countryside, y a Custavo, por su inspiraci6n y amor. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6 The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa and the Ejido Reform Research Project from the Center for U.S.-Mexico Sttidies at the University of' Calif~rniaat San Diego (UCSD) provided me with the funds that made the field research portion of this project possible. Special thanks goes to David Myhre from UCSD. 6 Above all, I thank the communities of San Miguel Acuexcomac and Emiliano Zapata Xexatengo for their hospitality and warmth, especially the women who so generously gave of their time and welcomed me into their houses, their fields, their kitchens, and his ~emascales. Our shared stories, tears, and laughter made the research process so much more. 6 The support of my advisors, Marilyn Gates and Gerardo Orero, must be acknowledged. Their inspiration, criticism, encouragement and insight made all the difference. I thank them both immensely for their extra efforts over the last few years. Special thanks goes lo Marilyn for her humour that was an essential ingredient throughout. 6 Mstra. Maria Eugenia D'Aubeterre, my informal advisor in Puebla, deserves a warm acknowledgement for all her support and encouragement. 6 Special thanks goes to the many people in Mexico who helped me throughout the research process: Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Hurnanidades, Beneme'ritcl Universidud Aut6noma de Puebla, with special mention of Mstro. Agustin Grajales; Sara Lara Flores from the Escuelc Nacional de Antropologia y Historia; Benjamin Pefia, Miguel SBnc hez, Blanca Salcedo, Efrain Inzunza, and Nacho Ocampo from the Colegio de Postgruduad~~s, CEZCADAR; Xochitl from the INAOEP; and to those who provided me with constant encouragement and technical support: Chiquis, Sergio, Angela, Everardo, Eva, Fernando, Fidel, Rafael, and Ofelia. qm After two field schools, six years, and the turmoil of current university restructuring, several members of the SLAS Department, some for their inspiration, others for thcir guidance, and others for their support, deserve acknowledgement: John Brohrnan, Rita De Grandis, Bob Everton, Liliana Hiil, M6nica Escudero, Ron Newton, Colin Ridgewell, Geoff Spurling. 6 Thank-you to the following people who have contributed with their inspiration, criticism, and encouragement: Niki Berkowitz, Donna Clark, Byron and Ingrid CrGz, Claudia Culos, Natalie Forstbauer, Luin Goldring, Shannon Harris, Caitlin Johnston, Cara- Lee Malange, Jude Morrison, Julian Prior, Danielle Scott, Nandita Sharma, Jill Townsend. bm A most loving ackntswledgement goes to my parents, Gerhara and Winn Preibisch, my siblings Cathy, Paul, and Pamela, for providing me with love and emotional support. 6 Agradezco a mi compafiero, Gustavo Ldpez, quien me apoyd durante todo el proceso, explicando, criticando, y sobre todo: escuchando. Approval Abstract Dedication Acknowledgements Figures & Illustrations 1 Peasant Societies, Economic Restructuring, and the Dynamics of Gender 1.1 Rural Women--Mexico's 'Comparative Advantage?' 1.2 'Many Mexicos': Choosing a Research Site 1.2.1 Physical Geography 1.2.2 Important Historical Notes 1.2.3 Current Issues in Puebla's Political Economy 1.3 Economic Restructuring in Everyday Life: Grounding Political Economy in Ethnography 1.3.1 Theoretical Orientations 1.3.2 Methodology 1.3.3 Implications 2 Neoiiberal Economic Restructuring and the Mexican Countryside 2.1 "To Market, to Market": The Re-Routing of the Mexican Economy 2.2 The Transformation Of The Agricultural Sector 2.2.1 The Persistence of the Peasantry 2.2.2 The Agricultural Crisis 2.2.3 Reversal of Policy: Agriculture Under Economic Restructuring 1982- 1994 3 'Modernization' and Marginalization: TkImmiseration of Rural Women 3.1 Bringing Gender Into the Debate 3.1.1 A House Divided: Gender Subordination and the Peasant Household 59 3.1.2 Restructuring and Reorganization 62 3.1.3 State Responses to Household Challenges 65 3.2 Agricultural Policy and the Construction of the Cumpesincr 67 3.2.1 Agrarian Reform 68 3.2.2 The Women's Decade and the UAWI 7 1 3.2.3 Exacerbating Structured Inequality: Recent

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