Eugenia Rodríguez, who has distinguished herself in the last decade as a historian of women in Central America, here gathers a selection of works focusing on gender and history presented at the fifth Central American History Congress (2000). The 14 essays are divided in two sections—1750–1950 and 1950–2000—followed by a conclusion in which Rodríguez assesses the progress of women’s history in Central America since 1957. This fine historical contribution aims at rescuing memories and continuing the development of women’s history in an area that, according to Rodríguez, “took off” in the late 1990s. Her careful analysis of historiographical trends shows that research has focused on women’s roles in families and daily life, state control over sexual behavior, and political participation and activism. A budding interest in masculinity and gender relations promises to develop in the future.
This collection itself reflects those trends. Of the five essays on women prior to...
