Trinity College Trinity College Digital Repository Senior Theses and Projects Student Scholarship Spring 2020 Women's Empowerment in the Dominican Republic Yisbell Lucia Marrero [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/theses Part of the Comparative Politics Commons, Development Studies Commons, Latin American Studies Commons, and the Organization Development Commons Recommended Citation Marrero, Yisbell Lucia, "Women's Empowerment in the Dominican Republic". Senior Theses, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 2020. Trinity College Digital Repository, https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/theses/852 Women’s Empowerment in the Dominican Republic 1 Women’s Empowerment in the Dominican Republic Understanding the Dominican Women’s Perspectives on their empowerment in Santiago and Santo Domingo. Yisbell Marrero 2 For my mother, Sudelania Cabrera, and my grandmothers, Ana Morel and Isabel Marrero 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………… 5 Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………….10 Chapter 2: Situating Santo Domingo and Situating Santiago de Los Caballeros……. 28 Chapter 3: Social Empowerment…………………………………………………... 47 Chapter 4: Economic Empowerment…………………………………………….... 63 Chapter 5: Political Empowerment ………………………………………………... 78 Chapter 6: Moving Forward……………………………………………………….. 95 References………………………………………………………………………… 97 4 Acknowledgments In 2003, at age 4, I migrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. My mother left behind her cosmetology business, a house, and financial independence with the goal of establishing a new future in the United States. Everything that would grant her the status as an empowered woman in the perspective of liberal feminists. However, the empowerment she thought she would achieve in the United States ended up being subjectively insufficient and something that could not fulfill her “true” ambition. The moment we set foot in Jersey City, New Jersey, we began our journey as migrant Dominican women in the United States. Over the past 18 years of residency in the United States we have moved from Jersey City to Washington Heights to the Boogie Down Bronx to Hartford and presently Endicott, NY. Despite all this movement, we had the consistency of returning to El Patio every summer, something that drives my dedication to the study of Latin(e) women, women in Latin America and the Caribbean, and particularly Dominican women themselves. It is within the journey as one and the detachment from the mundane life in the country itself that inspired this study. In 2016 I entered Trinity College and observed the elections. It was at this point that I realized that the United States cannot manage women’s empowerment and development. My conclusion stemmed from watching Hilary Clinton lose her presidential bid for the second time. Today, as Elizabeth Warren throws in the towel for the 2020 elections, my theory is proven. These examples demonstrate that even in the United States, a “third world country wearing a Gucci belt,” women are unable to break the glass ceiling, and thus in many ways unable to achieve empowerment. It was through this reality that I always longed to go back home to the Dominican Republic. Somehow, I have always perceived Dominican women as far more empowered compared to women in the United States. Soon graduating from this institution, I have learned about the unpaid mental labor that women of color in American society are expected to do. From professors calling on me when 5 discussing certain topics for the sake of teaching the other white students in the class, all the way to, having to attend an exasperated number of events, to having to take on leadership positions to make campus a more welcoming space for students of color, I have firsthand experience with the challenge of being a woman of color in the United States. In contrast, my perception has always been that empowerment for women in some areas of the Dominican Republic is more advanced and robust than what we see in the United States. My unique position and ability to straddle two cultures and countries resulted in my decision to investigate women’s empowerment in the Dominican Republic. Despite what might come across as criticism of the United States’ treatment of women of color, I owe a great portion of gratitude to Trinity College for my admissions back in 2016 through the influential recruitment of the Posse Foundation. Karla Spurlock Evans, who sat in the room during round three and my mentors Elo and Dan who prepared me for the bumpy journey. I have no regrets in choosing International Studies as a major because the faculty in that program truly highlighted the importance of covering Latin America and the Caribbean. I am particularly grateful for having the opportunity to take courses with my advisor and mentor, Seth Markle, the phenomenal, Dr. Diana Aldrete, and Hispanic Studies Department, Aidali Aponte-Aviles, each whom pushed me to think critically and constructively in their classrooms and developed my confidence as an undergraduate student. Professor Markle, played a considerable role in making sure I concreted my interest at an early stage of my undergraduate career and fueled my motivation to applying to graduate programs. Dr. Aldrete, allowed me the space in her coursework and curriculums to research Dominican women, and women in general. As for Professor. Aponte, I thank her for reestablishing the fundamentals of my Spanish in order to translate this thesis into the language as well as for being a ray of sunshine. Professor Isaac Kamola, Senior Thesis Colloquium professor, was of enormous help with constructing the fundamental parts of this research. Through his guidance I was able to build up this final product alongside the wonderful advisor Professor Stefanie Chambers. I am deeply indebted to 6 Professor Chambers, as she has not only advocated for the funding behind my research but also all of my internship opportunities since Freshman year. These opportunities included a position at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations for three terms. If it were not for the Gastmann Pilot Program and the Grossman Global Studies Grant I would not have had the direct access to the Third Committee at the United Nations that focuses on women. Professor Reo Matsuzaki, my advisor, through his comparative course on Asian studies and state building has played a big part in my writing, analytical thinking, and participation skills developed at Trinity. With his influence I derived the meaning behind majoring in political science and where my input matters. Last but not least, Professor Thomas Lefebvre, a strong player when it comes to the moral support of this research. Lefebvre, with his astounding knowledge on multilateral and international organizations and his teaching was the reason I felt a strong necessity to include a section on the role of organizations, specifically as it related to pushing forward women’s empowerment in the Dominican Republic. Navarrete Fieldwork It is with this transition that I turn to the women in my barrio, Navarrete, Santiago, who have been part of my life since the day I was born. More importantly, these inspirational actors ensured that I remained tied to my roots and Dominican women every time I traveled back to the country. Anlly Rodriguez, who has guided me through the political realm of the country, made sure I remained educated about current issues and regularly exposed me to all the neighborhoods on the island. She also arranged meetings with women in some of the poorest parts of the region so I could learn about their perspectives. I am grateful to Lea Francisco and Yudelka Maria Peña for allowing me to live the Dominican experience through their shoes since the age of one. All in all, every woman in Navarrete that has carried me as a child and a young adult. All my gratitude goes to the many amazing woman that took part in this research in one way or another, especially those who allowed me to interview them, and whom remain nameless in this thesis. 7 My gratitude would be incomplete without mention of the women at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations both in New York and Rome, Italy. Luz Andujar, for being a role model and focal point, guiding me through issues on women, children, and people of third age. Moira, for establishing some very important networking for my research as well as always being available for any clarifications and outreach. Julia Antonio and Maria Cristina Laureano, at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome where I did a winter internship in 2019. These women represent Dominican women internationally and I am truly grateful to see how dedicated and motivated they are to our mission abroad. Ambassadors, Frank Cortorreal and Mario Arvelo were also important because they allowed me to make the most out of my internships and shadow their diplomacy. Mario Baez, Chief of the Policy and Oversight Coordination Service for being an ally and mentor to me. As I have learned through my studies of political science, seeing role models can provide inspiration for underrepresented groups in politics. The exceptional scholarship of several feminist authors shaped the theoretical aspect of this thesis. I am grateful to Sara Ahmed, specifically her book, Notes from a Feminist Killjoy and Gayatri Chakravarty Spivak, Can the Subaltern Speak, for teaching me how to unleash my feminism and dismantle the oppressive systems we have today. The thoughts of these women have been really helpful in establishing my role within academia and as a student of color. Many friends, colleagues, and family played a role in the production of this research. Special shout out to Aaron Supple, my thesis partner who took the time to read over and edit my chapters. Constructing a critical review of my work that was more than helpful. A process that went beyond the classroom I am grateful to a very special administrator at Trinity.