MADRE An Ethnographic Study of Feminism, Social Change and Women's Human rights

Date of Award

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Vesperi, Maria

Keywords

Feminism, Women's Human Rights, Ethnography, Social Change, NGO (nongovernmental organization)

Area of Concentration

Anthropology

Abstract

This thesis is an ethnographic exploration of how the staff members of one New York City-based nongovernmental organization, MADRE Inc., effect transnational social change. MADRE is a self-proclaimed women�s human rights organization that works with grassroots women�s organizations worldwide to provide �rights, resources, and results.� Using anthropological and feminist theoretical frameworks, I draw from interviews with staff members, observations from my internship experience, and research from MADRE and its partner organizations to analyze how MADRE serves as a conduit for social transformation through two partners in Sudan and Colombia. I examine how feminist goals have informed women's human rights, and why organizations influenced by feminism(s) still resist association with it. I conclude that a women�s human rights framework is a more useful model for MADRE�s endeavors because it appeals to a broader audience, but acknowledges how feminism and other global movements nuanced the direction the organization.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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