Seeking Rights from the Left

Abstract

This chapter focuses on women's activism and its outcome with respect to women's rights and gender equality within the larger political context of the region. It deals with the terms feminism and women's movements in the Latin American context. The chapter overviews the relations among feminist, women's, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender movements (LGBT), focusing on external influences including regime change, left parties and movements, religious authorities, and transnational organizing opportunities. It presents the improvements in women's socioeconomic status and demonstrates the impact of left governance on feminist state-society relations. The chapter examines contemporary feminist and women's movements and their relationship with state feminism in the form of national women's machinery. Although national legislation on sexual rights and gender identity remains uneven across these countries, there is no denying that, in contrast with reproductive rights, significant national efforts, and some successes, have gotten underway in this area.