La interrupción del embarazo en comunidades tzotziles y tzeltales de los Altos de Chiapas

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of pregnancy termination in the Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities of the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The analysis of norms, practices and meanings related to pregnancy termination is based on the compilation of information from existing ethnographic studies and on the results of interviews conducted in the period November 2018-January 2019. In the patriarchal order of Chiapas communities, abortion is considered outlawed. However, the concept of pregnancy that starts when the woman begins to feel the movement of the foetus, as well as the notion of congelo or menstrual delay reveals a perspective of the woman elaborated from the body, which admits intervention to provoke bleeding. Furthermore, it is hypothesised that supernatural explanations of pregnancy termination have been used by women to free themselves from the control imposed on female sexuality.