Biographical Contours and Life Consequences of Activism Among Women Members of Collectives Searching for Disappeared Relatives in Mexico

This study aims to problematize the biographical contours and life consequences of high-risk activism undertaken by women belonging to collectives searching for disappeared relatives in Mexico. Over the past three decades, criminal violence has become a primary catalyst for disappearances across various regions of Mexico. Given the state's inability to combat impunity and provide justice to families victimized by disappearances, various collectives have assumed responsibilities including search operations, emotional support, and assistance with investigations conducted by state prosecutors. Within this context, women have played a crucial role, assuming leadership and prominence in activism related to the search for disappeared persons.

Against this backdrop, this work seeks to elucidate the principal biographical ruptures precipitated by the phenomenon of forced disappearances. The research aims to demonstrate that beyond the evident communal and familial consequences, this situation imposes substantial emotional, political, productive, and reproductive burdens on women, who often simultaneously fulfill roles as parents, heads of households, sisters, or wives. In addition to exploring the complexities associated with this disruptive political activation, the study intends to examine the primary effects on these women's truncated life projects and the consequences that extend into their domestic and private spheres.

In essence, this research endeavors to offer a perspective that integrates a dialogue between gender analysis, the debate on high-risk activism, and the biographical consequences of social mobilization. The methodology employs approximately thirty biographically oriented interviews with women from various search collectives in three Mexican territories most affected by criminal violence (Guanajuato, Sinaloa, and Sonora).