Surfing The New Wave: International Women’s Year and the Geopolitics of 1970s Mexican Feminism

Abstract

Although scholars and activists point to the 1975 International Women’s Year Conference as a pivotal moment in the development of transnational feminist networks, there has been less attention paid to the importance of its taking place in Mexico City. This article explores how the “new wave” of Mexican feminism in the early 1970s shaped policy priorities within Mexico as well as how the geopolitical context informed the range of possibilities open to feminist activists. As Mexican President Luis Echeverría pursued recognition on the international stage, he sought to align Mexican policies with UN priorities around population control and women’s opportunities.

Keywords

• Geopolitics
• International Women’s Year
• Mexican feminism
• Transnational feminism
• United Nations