Women in the indigenous township of San Pedro Chenalho, Chiapas have responded to economic crisis and structural adjustment in Mexico with cooperative survival strategies. While women have obtained a certain level of empowerment through these strategies, they have also faced severe obstacles to the development and success of their grassroots initiatives. This article examines the transformative potential of the women's collective projects, analyzes the obstacles they face, and considers the implications of the case of Chenalho for other marginalized communities facing similar impediments to grassroots development.
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