Blog Entry # 2: “Oaxaca Globalizado: Mujeres, Turismo and Migracion”

December 27, 2008

“Oaxaca Globalizado: Mujeres, Turismo and Migracion”

            Nine generations.  A grandmother, a mother, a son. . .  For nine generations, members of a family in Teotitlan del Valle have crafted traditional weaved rugs on unwieldy wooden looms.  This family, like many others in the area, helps to support the economy of the region.  According to the selections from L. Stephen’s Zapotec Women, in Teotitlan, in 1986, weaving was considered a primary household occupation and other commonly held jobs were very often associated with the production of weaved products.  As we drove through the streets of Teotitlan, surrounded on all sides by rugged mountains, these statistics seemed to come alive.  Women walked through the streets with brilliantly colored rugs and blankets slung over their shoulders.  These women were grandmothers, mothers and daughters, and the weaving industry allowed them to take on a prominent role in the region’s economy.  As we drove through the small city, nearly every street corner boasted a shop with intricately designed weavings displayed prominently in its windows.  According to Stephen, surveys in the late 1990s indicated that dependence on agricultural production was decreasing as weaving and textile production took on a more central role in the area’s economy.  The importance of weaving, not only as a traditional craft rooted deeply in the history of this region, but also as a crucial proponent of Teotitlan’s economy, was evident as we journeyed through this area. 

            In recent decades, a technological revolution of sorts has changed the purpose and function of the international economy.  Even Teotitlan, the home of old weaving traditions, has been affected by this change.  According to Stephen, many local merchants had begun working for importers and entrepreneurs based in the United States.  Our visit to Teotitlan underscored this statement.  As the weaver proudly shared his work and offered prices for the rugs, he emphasized the fact that he accepted credit cards and referenced his visits to cities in the United States.  It was clear that this family business did not just depend on tourists.  Even so, tourism is very obviously important to the economy of this area.  In Alex Saragoza’s piece, The Selling of Mexico, he emphasizes the significance of Mexico’s “heritage industry” and mentions the desire to attract tourists as a reason for the improvement of Mexico’s infrastructure.  As we travelled through Teotitlan, we were surrounded by heritage industry.  The weavers obviously took immense pride in their work and made an effort to explain to us the historical or cultural significance of many of the patterns.  As tourists, we came to learn about this beautiful tradition and, as some members of our group purchased rugs, we also supported this area’s economy.   

            As we left Teotitlan del Valle and journeyed through more populated areas, we saw an occasional Burger King or McDonald’s. Their flashy signs were displayed in striking contrast to the area’s other local businesses.  After spending the morning learning about the beautiful traditions of Teotitlan, the arguments presented in the New York Times’s article regarding the heated debate about the introduction of a McDonald’s restaurant to Oaxaca’s 473 year old Zocalo began to make sense. While the area struggles to maintain a strong economy and the introduction of these American chain restaurants helps to provide financial support, the restaurants did seem out of place in this culturally and historically beautiful area. 

            My paternal great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Poland in the early 1900s, and my maternal grandparents lived in a small town in the north of England until they brought my mom to the United States in 1968.  Although my family has made an effort to learn about our ancestors and our past, very little of our knowledge is definite about events and people prior to the late 1800s.  In Teotitlan, family history is the basis of business.  Nine generations of the same family have weaved traditional rugs and have supported the local economy through their participation in this industry.  During our visit, a ninety-three year old grandmother spun wool beside her daughter and her grandson.  Once, her husband had run the business.  After his death eight years ago, her grandson took charge.  Someday, perhaps, one of his children will run the weaving production.  This small weaving shop portrays the importance of culture and history in Oaxaca and is truly the epitome of a “family business”.

- Sarah Harris