Feminization of a trade? Handicrafts as a strategy for women and rural families in San Cristóbal Zapotitlán, Jocotepec

Abstract

The feminization of trades can entail diverse conceptualizations and effects for those who practice them. The aim of this study is to present the experiences of women artisans in San Cristóbal Zapotitlán in the practice of their craft, to question whether it is appropriate to speak of a feminization of handicrafts in this context, and, if so, to examine the characteristics and implications this process has for women and their families. The article argues that the artisanal context of San Cristóbal has particular features that have fostered an increase in women’s participation in the activity and their recognition as its main protagonists. Drawing on an ethnographic methodology, the stories and narratives of women artisans provide insight into their lived experiences and everyday lives. The presence of various external actors, as well as public and private programs and institutions interested in the craft, together with the construction of feminine identities through artisanal practice, allows for an analysis of the scope of these processes of feminization, which have tangible consequences for the reconfiguration and adaptation of rural families.