Victims of Time, Warriors for Change

Book excerpt: This book explores how women in the Chilean workforce and social activists describe and understand globalization and neoliberalism and their impact on their nation and the lives of Chilean women. By examining national policies, quantitative measures of development, and how various women in the labor force and political and community organizations perceive and live within the Chilean economy, Clark shows the dynamic relationship between national and international policies and gender inequality and women’s empowerment. In addition to historic and contemporary data analysis on Chile’s economic commitment to neoliberalism since the 1970s, Clark discusses how women have benefited in neoliberal Chile through wage labor and how that has impacted their relationships within the home and within their communities. In addition to working full-time, these women were committed to full-time activism to promote equality and provide a backlash against neoliberal economic policies. Overall, therefore, globalization and neoliberalism have had a profound impact on women in Chilean society. On the one hand, opportunities have been opened for many women, but, on the other, limitations and suffering have been imposed on just as many, if not more. An unfortunate consequence of these processes is that class differences among women have been exacerbated. In particular, most women have become Victims of Time. Still, many women remain Warriors for Change whose political and social activism provide hope for a better Chile.