Bolivia: Andean Women directed by Smith, Hubert (Documentary Educational Resources (DER), 1974) 19:33 mins

Discipline: Ethnography

Abstract: Aymara women voice a

common paradox. In the film they
express agreement with the
dominant Hispanic ideal that
women should be subservient to
men and assigned to tasks
appropriate to their limited
strength and intellegence. Yet
Aymara culture recognizes their
equal contributions to survival.
Author/Ethnographer: Reichline,
Neil & Smith, Hubert
Copyright Message: by
Documentary Educational
Resources
Cultural Group: Aymara
Cultural Place: Bolivia
Director: Smith, Hubert
Duration: 19 minutes
Editor: DiGioia, Herbert
Ethnographer: Reichline,
Neil & Smith, Hubert
General Ethnographer: Neil
Reichline & Hubert Smith
General Subject: Division of
labor; Tribal and national
groups; Women; Education; Rural
population & Gender roles
Keyword: Women's studies;
Cross-cultural; South America;
Indigenous people; Rural; Iberian
studies; Latin American studies;
Highlands; Gender roles &
Machismo
Language of Edition: Aymara

TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO FILE:

Original Release Date: 1974

Place: Muecas, La Paz
Department
Place Discussed: Muecas, La
Paz Department
Producer: Miller, Norman
Publication Place: Watertown,
MA
Publication Type: Serial
Component Part
Publisher: Documentary
Educational Resources (DER)
Recording Location: Vitocota
(Aymara village), Muecas
Province, La Paz, Bolivia
Release Date: 1974
Responsibility Statement: by
Hubert Smith and Neil
Reichline
Series: Faces of Change
Video Type: Documentary

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:
Documentary Educational Resources
aufs An American Universities Field Staff Presentation
The Aymara of the Bolivian Andes
ANDEAN WOMEN American universities Field Staff, Inc., 1974
Youre so slow
- Its all bloody!
- The frost killed himthen he was trampled on.
That liver is bad!
[sil.]
Now, Im going to wash it in water
- Ill give the guts to the dog.
- Give the guts to the dog.
- Can you wash the head, too ?
- Of course Ill do that as well.
[sil.]
The dog isnt here? We might have to waste these guts Where is he? Where could he have gone? He hasnt eaten today
[sil.]
What are the obligations of women and men?
Women must spin weave and other things.
Your wife cut up the lamb. It seems to us that butchering is only done by women here.
Oh, no! Butchering is mans work they were just cutting it up to save it. It died last night Its more trouble to cut when its not fresh-killed. I let them
play with it. Womens obligations are to spin and weave.
- Do women help in the fields?
- Yes they help there, too. Together with us
- Do they use the foot-plow?
- Certainly not! Not the plow or the pick. - No only we men work with plow and pick.
- When we plant corn women only drop seed.
[sil.]
- weaving looking after chickens.
- these things chickens sheep these things are womens business.

- We women we are not strong.

- Thats what is said about us. We are weak. Men are used to lifting heavy things for example, the big packs. Thats the way men are very strong.
We help the men out by spinning weaving cooking food. And we raise our childrenSometimes the men help.
The men go out very early we come along later with food. The men leave early then we bring food. Thats how we help.
[sil.]
- This seed is going rotten.
- Its weak better put two in each hole.
[sil.]
- Theres Marie shes looking at us.
- Theres pasture down there right?
Yes, its full of food.
I want to cut some later. This year our sheep must do better.
[sil.]
Marie ! Come on well eat.
[sil.]
Ive washed you well havent I? Now youre clean like a little Indian should be.
[sil.]
OK finished now youre nice.
[sil.]
Here she comes
[sil.]
Take the plastic off when theres sun just put it on when it rains.
[sil.]
Or do you want to be covered for life?
- Is he one of ours?
- No someone elses
Itll be hard to recognize our sheep.
- Look her field hasnt been planted.
- No really?
- Is that the only one shell plant?

- Just that
- Your hand got away from you.
- Yes, I put too much water in the soup.
[sil.]
That dog isnt very hungry.
[sil.]
- We women were not strong.
- Yes boy babies are more valuable.
- A boy is support for us security.
- You are so right.
School is necessary for boys. For girls its not really necessary.
It used to be so we are in different times boys and girls both go to school!
In my time there wasnt 'Going to school'. There wasnt any school.
[non-English narration]
If there had been Going to school...Wow! We would know how to read and write!
- For girls its different
- They want to go, too.
Some families send their girls. I do not. My girls have asked me, 'Why didnt you put me in the school'. 'I might have learned one or two words.' 'When you
saw me old enough, you sent me out with the sheep, pigs and llamas when you saw me older, you ordered me to work in the fields.' My girls tell me
this. 'We wanted to read and write because the houses in La Paz have numbers on them.' 'We wanted to learn so we might live without problems.'
That's how my girls talk. In my time I didnt go to school so I didnt give importance to my daughters' going.
Men work a lot women dont We cant carry heavy firewood we cant work earth thats hard of them The man is always work
[sil.]
shes almost finished trading. Damn! We missed most of the fiesta we live so far from there.
We overdid it this year we came home a bit drunk.
Good men deserve their fun.
[sil.]
They tell me she is generous
[sil.]
- Are you sure she will be generous?
Yes
[sil.]

See you later were going.

[sil.]
- Just this and no more.
- For so much maize?
Yes thats what she gives us Come, lets eat some boiled corn.
[sil.]
My father and mother delivered me to my husband. I didnt want to go. Besides, he wouldnt leave me alone. I accepted him to save my honor. I did so on
orders from my parents. My father and mother ordered me to marry my husband.
- Did you talk with many boys before marrying?
- I wasnt my husbands friend before marriage. Without ever talking, we came together. All of a sudden we were married.
I never talked with boys in the pastures My father was my husbands friend. He brought him to our house many times. People began to murmur about
me so we decided to marry
[sil.]
This old mother of mine had many children! She complied by delivering 12 apostles. Three of us are living2 women 1 man. There were 12. They say
one must comply with 12 apostles. I compiled with 12, too. I have 8 sons 4 daughters 8 boys and 4 girls. My husband hated my last 2 boy
babies He said, 'Why have you had all these children?! You breed like an animal!'.
What can the mothers do? We have to raise them!
Some men are unfaithful they dont come home before morning. Some that are very good can live with their wives till death. Some are like stags
beating abusing little by little killing the woman. Some beat and scold us all the time such is our life. Some couples are good-hearted
and live together till death others cant and separate.
[sil.]
I want to leave here Ive looked after my family my children are grown. My husband hit me he was going to kill me. He grabbed me by the throat.
I screamed. My daughter and daughter-in-law saved me.
Its a miracle he didnt kill you like that woman in Quishuarani .
They found the body strangled they say she died slowly.
[sil.]
- Is there water in the well?
- Yes
Then get up
[sil.]
Move your water can. Thats better.
[sil.]
Director HUBERT SMITH Camera NEIL REICHLINE Sound HUBERT SMITH Editor MIKE AKESTER Translators Srta. JUANA VASQUEZ MANUEL
DeLUCCA D. Producer NORMAN MILLER A.U.F.S Pre-production Advisor RICHARD PATCH A.U.F.S. gratefully acknowledges THE PEOPLE OF
PROVINCIA MUECAS with special thanks to THE COMMUNITY OF VITOCOTAMINISTERIO DE INFORMACION Y DEPORTES DE LA REPUBLICA
DE BOLIVIA THE NATIONAL FILM SCHOOL OF GREAT BRITAIN Produced under a grant from the NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION U.S.A.
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