Feminist legal mobilization in a conservative enclave: the case of Salta province, Argentina

ALBA RUIBAL

Minneapolis

Congreso; Conferencia Anual de Law and Society Association; 2014

The interaction between social movements and the legal system is a recent phenomenon in Latin America, and it took more time to the feminist movement, in comparison with other social actors in the region, to develop legal mobilization. The literature on feminist activism in Latin America, as well as the incipient field of studies on legal mobilization in the region have generally focused on the national level. On the other hand, recent studies on the role of sub-national judicial politics in Latin America have generally foucused on courts and not on legal mobilization. Through the study of feminist legal mobilization in an Argentine province, this paper shows that important processes of legal mobilization, particularly in the field of women´s rights, are taking place at the local level. The paper focuses on a case study based in the North Western province of Salta, which is one of the most conservative enclaves in the country but, paradoxically, presents some the most interesting current developments in terms of feminist legal mobilization in Argentina, addressing discrimination in the workplace and religious education at public schools. The paper analyzes the legal and political opportunity structure as well as the support structure for legal mobilization, and highlights factors related to the interaction between local and national actors and institutions regarding each of those variables.