[Lasa] Naming Indigenous women Maria

[Manuela L Picq]

Dear colleagues,

As I keep writing about indigenous women, I am looking for any historical or sociological analyses on naming indigenous women "Maria" (especially in Ecuador). It is well known that they were (are) indiscriminately called "Marias," and many have their legal name preceded by Maria. Does anyone know of an analysis of that naming custom, and its impacts on homogenization, discrimination, invisibilization?

Wishing everybody a smooth and healthy start for 2012.

Saludos,
Manuela