Kirkir Warmi: Identity and Role of Aymara Women in the Development of Northern Chile

Authors

  • Manuel Mamani M. Universidad de Talca); Universidad de Tarapacá

Abstract

Aymara women are inserted in the basic conception of duality as one of the basic principles of the Andean culture. Duality is a structure based upon a group of rules and values which are still valid in the Andean society. According to these rules, each member of the society is clearly aware of his/her identity, of his/her singularity, of his/her possibilities and of his/her roles that he she is expected to play within the Aymara society. In this dual and collective interaction, Aymara women fulfill functions oriented to this dual conception, denominated panipacha. This interaction is congruous with the sense of solidarity, reciprocity and the equality of conditions of men and women, following a scale of individual and collective values of the Andean culture. Each person is regulated by these rules provided by the same society. Therefore the theory of reciprocity and of mutual complement is part of the Aymara system of distribution and balance.

Keywords:

women, duality, music, values, identity