Migration, Gender and Dance. Trajectories of Afro-descendant Women in Northern Chile

Abstract

This research investigates the corporeal dimension of intersectionality among migrant women. For this purpose, it considers the bodily trajectories of Afro-Colombian women in Arica, northern border of Chile, where the Afro-Chilean movement is also developing. In the last decade, the arrival of Afro-Latin American and Afro-Caribbean population to the country has provoked reactions of racism, discrimination and xenophobia. In turn, two decades ago, the Afro-Chilean movement formed organizations that demanded the effective recognition of their communities, among them musical groups. From a qualitative approach, two life stories and body maps are made with Afro-Colombian women who participate in the Afro-Chilean movement through dance, and their body processes linked to migrant trajectories are studied in depth. It is highlighted that for Afro-descendant migrant women, dance becomes a strategy linked to their bodies that promotes processes of agency.

Keywords:
body itinerary; life history; body map; Afro-Colombian women; Chile