Chilean Women and Democratization: Entering Politics through Resistance as Arpilleristas.

Historically, women played a very traditional role in Chilean society, and under Pinochet women were assumed to continue playing a private role while men dominated the public sphere of politics. Ironically, Pinochet's regime with its neo-liberal economic policies and political oppression resulted in women's collective action which meant that women's role in politics was transformed. They now began to play more public roles as they took on more economic and political roles outside the home. This article focuses on the arpillera workshops which allowed women to play an important political role in the democratization process and assist in removing Pinochet from power. After the transition to democracy, women's political role was not suddenly and unequivocally expanded, but the election of Michelle Bachelet illustrates the legacy of the arpillera movement and how women have become more effective public actors and active participants in Chilean democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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