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seeceeread's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
💭 "Las mujeres hemos sido globalizadas en la invisibilización, en la explotación, en el cuerpo, en la violencia, en el silencio, en la familia." —Alda Facio
💭 "I want to learn to learn how to defend myself from whoever tries to oppress me, whether it's my husband, my union, or my boss." —domestic violence workshop participant
Some months ago, I ran a "get to know each other" activity among colleagues using music as a theme. One of the questions was, "What kind of radio DJ" would you be? My answer: I want better questions on talk radio. Less 'Is cheating okay? Fellas, call in now. Ladies, sound off!' ... and more discussion of the best ways to prepare a household for a strike or how to support coworkers through major life changes. Less debate of how much mental illness (rather than sexism and white supremacy) are animating a celebrity's behavior and more about the leftist ground game behind the Brazil elections.
Such a radio program exists for unionized banana workers across Latinoamerica; it's one of the tools women leverage to advertise workshops and promote day-to-day work in 𝘭𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢. Rereading, I also like this book for the ways Frank moves out of the way of her subjects. While she translates, adds analysis and clarifies context, the bananeras' own quotes and instructions to her (when to dance, what to photograph and explain in the text) are more salient. The construction is therefore remarkable: a US academic whose work makes space for others, in this case, working class others who are often illiterate and struggling with self-esteem.
A slim book, this is a good read for labor organizers and activists interested in the Latin American landscape and/or strategies that could strengthen and shift entrenched organizations. Frank details institutional changes adopted in resolutions and governance, relational moves and painstaking power brokering over fifteen years to define and elevate women's work — local, national and finally regional and international — in and for their unions in Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
💭 "I want to learn to learn how to defend myself from whoever tries to oppress me, whether it's my husband, my union, or my boss." —domestic violence workshop participant
Some months ago, I ran a "get to know each other" activity among colleagues using music as a theme. One of the questions was, "What kind of radio DJ" would you be? My answer: I want better questions on talk radio. Less 'Is cheating okay? Fellas, call in now. Ladies, sound off!' ... and more discussion of the best ways to prepare a household for a strike or how to support coworkers through major life changes. Less debate of how much mental illness (rather than sexism and white supremacy) are animating a celebrity's behavior and more about the leftist ground game behind the Brazil elections.
Such a radio program exists for unionized banana workers across Latinoamerica; it's one of the tools women leverage to advertise workshops and promote day-to-day work in 𝘭𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢. Rereading, I also like this book for the ways Frank moves out of the way of her subjects. While she translates, adds analysis and clarifies context, the bananeras' own quotes and instructions to her (when to dance, what to photograph and explain in the text) are more salient. The construction is therefore remarkable: a US academic whose work makes space for others, in this case, working class others who are often illiterate and struggling with self-esteem.
A slim book, this is a good read for labor organizers and activists interested in the Latin American landscape and/or strategies that could strengthen and shift entrenched organizations. Frank details institutional changes adopted in resolutions and governance, relational moves and painstaking power brokering over fifteen years to define and elevate women's work — local, national and finally regional and international — in and for their unions in Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
smoothwoven's review against another edition
5.0
The story behind your snack. A must read for everyone who eats bananas.
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Bananeras was my pick for Honduras. It’s a non-fiction book looking at women banana workers in the union movement. This was a slim volume with some interesting information - the conditions the women faced at home and at work, the barriers they had to overcome within the labour movement, their goals and aspirations, as well as the gains and benefits achieved for both themselves and the wider labour movement. Aspects of this book were certainly inspirational but it did have a dry, academic tone meaning it won’t appeal to many readers.
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