Box 12.4 Mayan Women
Ease the Economic Crisis Through Domestic ProductionDominga Quej, an Achí Maya woman from Guatemala, and her family were deeply affected by
the economic crisis. Seasonal work in Guatemala’s coffee plantations, her family’s main source of
cash, dwindled considerably. However, Dominga has an advantage over her mestiza counter-
parts. Her skills in weaving provide some protection in difficult economic times. Dominga and
thousands, perhaps millions, of indigenous women responded to the economic crisis by inten-
sifying domestic production of textiles, pottery, wooden objects, and other craft goods (Figure
12.8). Indeed, although in the past Dominga had always woven some items for sale in addition
to her family’s clothing, she began to spend many hours weaving for the tourist market in order
to compensate for her family’s lost income from seasonal plantation work. This strategy not only
enables women like Dominga to improve their economic situation somewhat during times of
crisis but also lets them do so without giving up control over tools, techniques, and work sched-
ules. By working at home or close by, women are able to structure their domestic chores and
child care around productive activities. By intensifying artisan production, women resist total in-
corporation into the capitalist sector.Figure 12.8 Practicing the ancient arts of spinning and weaving, indigenous women
contribute to the survival of their family while preserving valued aspects of their ancestors’
cultures. Photograph provided by the authors.464 UNIT 4 MESOAMERICAN CULTURAL FEATURES