Individual Presentation or Panel Title
The Significance of the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo
Abstract
This project investigates the significance of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Following the end of the era of Juan Perón in Argentine history, a period of deep political turmoil known as the Dirty War emerged. Various factions of the government accused labor movement supporters, vocal left-wing politicians, intellectuals, Marxists, and other non-cooperative individuals of subversion, which culminated in the disappearances of 30,000 Argentinians. These Argentinians, known as desaparecidos, did not disappear silently. An organization known as the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo developed, comprised of mothers of the desaparecidos with the intention of locating their children either dead or alive. Based on an array of scholarly journals written about the Mothers and the Dirty War, it is clear that the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have been a significant force in shaping the political, social, and cultural climate of Argentina by testing the right-wing government’s oppressive policies, keeping the topics of desaparecidos and impunity relevant, and challenging the conventional roles of women in Argentine society.
Location
Ballator Gallery
Start Date
20-4-2013 2:30 PM
End Date
20-4-2013 3:20 PM
The Significance of the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo
Ballator Gallery
This project investigates the significance of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Following the end of the era of Juan Perón in Argentine history, a period of deep political turmoil known as the Dirty War emerged. Various factions of the government accused labor movement supporters, vocal left-wing politicians, intellectuals, Marxists, and other non-cooperative individuals of subversion, which culminated in the disappearances of 30,000 Argentinians. These Argentinians, known as desaparecidos, did not disappear silently. An organization known as the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo developed, comprised of mothers of the desaparecidos with the intention of locating their children either dead or alive. Based on an array of scholarly journals written about the Mothers and the Dirty War, it is clear that the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have been a significant force in shaping the political, social, and cultural climate of Argentina by testing the right-wing government’s oppressive policies, keeping the topics of desaparecidos and impunity relevant, and challenging the conventional roles of women in Argentine society.