Into the Hearts of the Amazons: In Search of a Modern Matriarchy

281 Pages·2006·1.07 MB·English

by  Tom DeMott

h
     
c
e
p
e
t
n
a
u
h
e
T
f
o
s
u
m
h
t
s
I
Into the Hearts
of the Amazons
In Search of
a Modern Matriarchy
Tom DeMott
    
 
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53711
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/
3 Henrietta Street
London WC2E 8LU, England
Copyright © 2006
The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
All rights reserved
1 3 5 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
DeMott, Tom.
Into the hearts of the Amazons : in search of a modern matriarchy / Tom DeMott.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-299-21640-5 (cloth: alk. paper)
1. Zapotec women—Mexico—Juchitán de Zaragoza—History.
2. Zapotec women—Mexico—Juchitán de Zaragoza—Social conditions.
3. Zapotec Indians—Mexico—Juchitán de Zaragoza—Social life and customs.
4. Matriarchy—Mexico—Juchitán de Zaragoza.
5. Juchitán de Zaragoza (Mexico)—History.
6. Juchitán de Zaragoza (Mexico)—Social life and customs.
I. Title.
F1221.Z3D44 2006
305.897´6807274—dc22 2005032818
Terrace Books, a division of the University of Wisconsin Press,
takes its name from the Memorial Union Terrace, located at
the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Since its inception in 1907,
the Wisconsin Union has provided a venue for students, faculty, staff,
and alumni to debate art, music, politics, and the issues of the day.
It is a place where theater, music, drama, dance, outdoor activities,
and major speakers are made available to the campus and the community.
To learn more about the Union, visit www.union.wisc.edu.
h
To



h
You should see them arrive like walking towers,
their windows open, their heart like a window,
their nocturnal girth visited by the moon.
Elena Poniatowska
I am still of the opinion, that only two topics can
be of the least interest to a serious and studious
mind—sex and the dead.
William Butler Yeats
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
The Blue Mortuary 3
The Politician 18
Honoring San Vicente 22
The Apologist 34
Lavada 37
The Russian 55
Quintessential Isthmus Women 58
The Kid 67
Vela Zandunga 70
The Spy 89
The Other City Hall 93
The Princess 99
Purse Strings 104
The Blaseña 121
Tirada de Frutas 126
The Radical 138
Day of the Dead 143
The Italian 157
Bloqueo 162
vii
viii h Contents
The Journalist 173
Marketplace Tehuantepec 177
The Filmmaker 196
Inventing Santa Inés 201
The Grad Student 219
Green Mangos 223
The Investigator 236
The General’s Daughter 241
Epilogue 251
Bibliography 259
Index 263
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Howard Campbell, whose research, articles, and books on
the Isthmus provided a platform from which to launch this book. To
Julin Contreras for introducing me to the right women and for provid-
ing insight and historical perspective to Isthmus customs. I also owe
thanks to Julin’s recently deceased father, Jorge Contreras, for inviting
me to return to the Isthmus during the season of velas and for commen-
tary about how men fare in the unusual culture of the Isthmus. To
Magda Garrido, and both of her parents, Galaor and Hortensia, who
were especially hospitable and informative whenever I came unan-
nounced to their door.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Lugarda Charis, Delia
Cruz, Gloria de la Cruz, Juana de la Cruz, Maureen Gosling, Florinda
Luis, Obdulia Ruiz, Marinella Miano Borruso, Edaena Saynes-
Vázquez, Jocasta Shakespeare, and Rosario Vialba for answering my
many questions.
Maureen Heckman listened patiently to my book talk for the last
five years and provided thoughtful criticism and careful proofreading
underthepressureofdeadlines.
I owe gratitude to Jody Rhodes, my agent, for believing in my book
when there were few believers to be found. And to Adam Mehring, an
editor at the University of Wisconsin Press, for making me feel I was
more than just a first-time author. Raphael Kadushin, also of the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin Press, allowed me to reshape the book long after it
was due. Carla Aspelmeier helped find a suitable cover photo.
Special thanks to my readers and reviewers, including Tony Cohan,
Matt DeMott, Brian Deutscher, Michael Fosmire, Jim Laird, Nadia
Mejia, Richard Roper, Linda Watanabe, and Sandra Zentner. My final
thanks go to my mother for introducing me to books at an early age and
for proofreading the final drafts of the manuscript.
ix