Weaving Ethnicity. Molas and Mayan Textiles in Panamá and Guatemala
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2106-3073
Monica Martínez Mauri
Abstract
In this article, we propose the concept of «material ethnicity» to explore the centrality of certain elements of material culture, specifically those sewn and woven by women, in contemporary redefinitions of ethnic boundaries. Our goal is to understand, through the analysis of molas gunas (Panama) and Mayan textiles (Guatemala), the role of indigenous textiles in the fluid construction of identities. We consider how these objects operate in the group’s external relations and how, within the group, they shape the person, mark gender identities, and inspire political struggles. To answer these questions, we explore the reasons why molas and Mayan textiles have become ethnic identifiers, highlighting their importance in the construction of: (1) corporeality, (2) the organization of gender relations, (3) knowledge, (4) the perception of property, and (5) temporality. Finally, we conclude that textiles provide a valuable framework for rethinking the relationships between subject and object, tradition and innovation, and the individual and the collective. Their study raises questions about the diverse ways materialities shape identities today.
How to Cite
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ethnicity, materiality, Guatemala, Panama, textiles
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