THE DESIRE FOR IDENTITY: STIGMA, POLITICAL PROCEDURE AND RESILIENCE AMONG THE MAPUCHE WILLICHE WOMEN OF THE PUYEHUE COMMUNE IN CHILE

Las mujeres mapuche williche demuestran hoy una notable visibilidad política en las comunas del sur de Chile. Por "política" no se entiende necesariamente las pugnas partidistas. La pregunta en este artículo pretende emitir la hipótesis que si existe un estigma de tipo sociocultural, el mismo podría servir de pretexto para la consolidación identitaria y la reivindicación política a favor tanto del grupo "étnico" como del grupo "genérico". Lo que genera colateralmente un discurso "femenino" sui generis aún poco estudiado. Considerando estos planteamientos, el autor revisa los discursos y la praxis actuales con los que las mujeres williche de la comuna de Puyehue (Osorno) despliegan sus actividades con las autoridades tradicionales del pueblo mapuche y con las autoridades chilenas.//Mapuche Williche women today demonstrate notable political visibility in the communes of southern Chile. In this context, the term "political" does not necessarily mean partisan strife. The question posed in this article, is intended to set forth the hypothesis that if a socio-cultural stigma does exist, it could serve as a pretext for the consolidation of identity and political vindication of both the "ethnic" group and the "generic group," which collaterally generates a sui generis "feminine" discourse that has not yet been studied in depth. Considering these points, the author reviews the current discourses and praxis with which the Williche women of the Puyehue commune (Osorno) carry out their activities in dialogue with the traditional authorities of the Mapuche people and with the Chilean authorities. Reprinted by permission of the Editorial Committee - Revista Antipoda: Revista de antropologia y arqueologia - Universidad de los Andes