Women in Colonial Latin America, 1526 to 1806: Texts and Contexts

Description

"This outstanding collection makes available for the first time a remarkable range of primary sources that will enrich courses on women as well as Latin American history more broadly. Within these pages are captivating stories of enslaved African and indigenous women who protest abuse; of women who defend themselves from charges of witchcraft, cross-dressing, and infanticide; of women who travel throughout the empire or are left behind by the men in their lives; and of women's strategies for making a living in a world of cross-cultural exchanges. Jaffary and Mangan's excellent Introduction and annotations provide context and guide readers to think critically about crucial issues related to the intersections of gender with conquest, religion, work, family, and the law." -Sarah Chambers, University of Minnesota

Nora E. Jaffary is Professor of History, Concordia University. Jane E. Mangan is Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of History and Latin American Studies at Davidson College.

"Mangan and Jaffary's volume offers an impressive collection of primary sources for Latin American women's history. It includes texts covering a diversity of women, times, and places across this broad region; shows that women were agents of survival and change for themselves and others; and humanizes the experience of colonial life for specific individuals and families across a long period. This book will be very usable in courses on Latin American, gender, social, and cultural history. I highly recommend it." Susan Kellogg, University of Houston "When I teach colonial Latin America again, I will be glad to use this book. The strengths include the primary documents written by women, including some indigenous and African women, during a time when their recorded personal testimonies are scarce. I also note the insightful analysis and suggested readings that the editors include, all of which are welcome additions to this book." Rene Harder Horst, Appalachian State University