Overview
"A clear, well-written, and cogent study of three major women intellectuals and their positions as creative writers and cultural critics in Latin America."—Francine Masiello, University of California, Berkeley
"Insightful and often brilliant . . . especially important in countering the traditional thought that posits the notion that women did not engage in the production of culture and knowledge in 20th-century Latin America."—Susan C. Quinlan, University of Georgia
Moving deftly across the gap between Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking Latin America, Elizabeth Marchant examines the writing of three important women intellectuals of the early 20th century: Lúcia Miguel Pereira (Brazil), Victoria Ocampo (Argentina), and Gabriela Mistral (Chile).
Though Marchant acknowledges the persistence of the "bearded academy"—referring to the male-dominated nature of literary institutions—she challenges the assumption that women did not engage in the production of culture and knowledge in modern Latin America. Looking at the broad contexts in which the three authors wrote, she explores their views on race, culture, gender, and national identity, bringing into focus women's impact on the writing of the history of ideas in Latin America as well as their traditional influence as writers of personal themes. She also examines the neglected study of the critical essay as a genre.
Solidly grounded in feminist theory, cultural criticism, and social history, this book offers important ground-breaking perspectives on the issue of gender criticism and the study of Third World women writers.
Elizabeth A. Marchant is assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has written articles on contemporary Afro-Brazilian literature and cultural studies.