Gender, class and water: Women and the politics of water service in Monterray, Mexico

Abstract

This article analyzes the role played by gender and class in the history of water supplies in Monterrey, Mexico. The author starts with a brief historical overview, highlighting the impact of water services on poor urban women, and women's social activism. History shows that poor women used phone calls, meetings, obstruction of streets, and even holding water services employees' hostage, as a form of protest. It was said that the most effective forms of protests were the most disruptive ones. Protests had impacts in local levels but also at the national level. The most visible result was in 1984 when the federal government approved the 'water for all' program.