Resumo

PARIS-POMBO, María Dolores. Health promotion and gender power in the Oaxaca mixteca. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2008, vol.5, n.1, pp.53-69. ISSN 1870-5472.

In this essay, I present some results from field work I carried out in the Oaxaca Mixteca with a team of researchers from the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) and the Autonomous Metropolitan University Xochimilco (UAM-X) in the context of the Heath Promotion Project from a binational Perspective, which was initiated in January, 2007, and will end in June, 2008. The objective is analyzing the perception of Mixteca and Triquis women about health care in their communities and the transformation of this perception once they migrate to California. The methodology used in this research is qualitative in nature; in particular, it consists of an analysis of the IMSS-Oportunidades program content, in-depth interviews with promoters and beneficiaries, as well as participant observation in educational workshops included in the program. Here, I analyze the impact of these workshops on the autonomy of Triquis and Mixteca women, in their ability to make decisions regarding their body and health. Mi criticism is focused on the coercive character of health promotion and the aspects of vigilance, control and gender power.

Palavras-chave : Biopower; body; empowerment; vigilance.