Maya Market Women: Power and Tradition in San Juan Chamelco, Guatemala

177 Pages·2014·1.653 MB·English

by  S. Ashley Kistler

MAYA MARKET
WOMEN
Power and Tradition
in San Juan Chamelco,
Guatemala
S. Ashley Kistler
Maya Market Women
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InterpretatIons of Culture
In the neW MIllennIuM
Norman E. Whitten Jr., General Editor
A list of books in the series appears
at the end of the book.
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Maya Market
Women
power and tradition
in san Juan Chamelco, Guatemala
s. ashley KIstler
unIversIty of IllInoIs press
urbana, Chicago, and springfield
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© 2014 by the Board of Trustees
of the University of Illinois
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 c p 5 4 3 2 1
∞ This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kistler, S. Ashley, 1978–
Maya market women : power and tradition in San Juan
Chamelco, guatemala / S. Ashley Kistler.
pages cm. — (Interpretations of culture
in the new millennium)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-252-03835-8 (hardback)
ISBN 978-0-252-07988-7 (paper)
ISBN 978-0-252-09622-8 (ebook)
1. Kekchi women—Guatemala—San Juan Chamelco—
Economic conditions. 2. Kekchi women—Guatemala—
San Juan Chamelco—Social conditions. 3. Women
merchants—Guatemala—San Juan Chamelco. 4. Kekchi
Indians—Industries—Guatemala—San Juan Chamelco
5. Kekchi Indians—Guatemala—San Juan Chamelco—
Economic conditions. 6. Kekchi Indians—Guatemala—
San Juan Chamelco—Social life and customs.
7. San Juan Chamelco (Guatemala)—Social life
and customs.
I. Title.
F1465.2.K5K57 2014
972.81'51—dc23 2013040755
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For Harold
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Chapter 1. Gender, Kin, and Markets in the Land of Peace 1
Chapter 2. Continuity and Memory in San Juan Chamelco,
Guatemala 18
Chapter 3. Markets and Marketers 41
Chapter 4. Recognition and Immortality in the Market
and Beyond 65
Chapter 5. All in the Junkab’al 98
Chapter 6. Marketing Memory 120
Notes 127
Glossary 131
References 135
Index 153
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acknowledgments
My fieldwork in Chamelco was generously supported by National Science
Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant #0613168,
a Florida State University Dissertation Research Grant, and a Florida State
University Department of Anthropology Eisele Predissertation Grant. I bear
sole responsibility for the opinions presented within this book.
In Guatemala, I thank first and foremost the people of San Juan Chamelco.
In particular, I thank the following marketers who supported my research in
Chamelco: Nolita Cuc, Imelda Quim, Elda Quim, Rosalia Xol, Margarita Chen,
Albertina Chen, Luvia Chen, Maria Elena Botzoc, Ninfa Ch’o, Roberto Cao,
Herlinda Botzoc, Emilia Berta Caal, Gudelia Caal, Josefina Choc, Pina Choc,
Imelda Choc, Olivia Ponce de Poou, Toya Bac, Maria Larios, Soila Cu, Ana
Coy, Rosalia Xol, Lita Cabnal, Cantel Tiul, the late Chica Chen, Catalina Pop,
Amalia Botzoc, Adela Pop, Mirna Cuc, Olga Cuc, Lidia Beb’, Lita Chen Bac,
Aurelia Tupil, Herlinda Cuc, and Veronica Sakul. In addition, I thank Gilberto
Coy, Poncho Molina, Jorge Juarez, Mario Cu, Ventura Cu, Andrés Cuz, Poncho
Cu, Father Denis López, Héctor Escobedo, and Lilian Garrido. B’antiox eere.
I extend the greatest of thanks to a few individuals in Chamelco without
whom this research would not have been possible. They are: Ovidio Paau,
Onelia Paau, Alejandro Coc, Wiliams Cu, and Adela Tzib. I thank Aura Caal
for becoming my sister, Ofelia Ch’o for making me her comadre, and Sebastián
Si for his valuable insight into the Q’eqchi’ language. I thank Juana Can for her
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