27th Annual Student Research Conference
Female Icons of the Nicaraguan Revolution
Margaret E. Licklider
Dr. Marc Becker, Faculty Mentor
During the Nicaraguan Revolution of the 1970s, women took active roles in all fronts against the Somoza dictatorship. Giaconda Belli and Violeta Barrios de Chamorro represent two female icons of the revolution who take radically different political approaches in their opposition of Somoza while both utilizing their upper class status to lead in the male dominated political administration. The changing political climate was a vehicle by which female activists advanced their individual agendas, while inadvertently advancing feminist ideology. Comparing the autobiographies of Belli and Chamorro reveals how they were politically progressive, yet continued to project traditional gender roles of the Church that defined women within the constraints of Eve, the temptress, and la Virgen Maria, the mother. Comparing the writings of these two iconistas with those of other female revolutionaries helps to complete the multi-dimensional picture of female participation and identity in the revolution.
Keywords: Nicaraguan Revolution, female icons, Giaconda Belli , Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, female activists, Eve, the temptress, la Virgen Maria, the mother, female participation and identity in revolution
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
Women's and Gender Studies
Spanish
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 101-2
Location: MG 2001
Time: 8:15