Machado, LMV; (1992) Continuity of urban movements: The participation of low-income women in the health movement of the Jardim Nordeste area in São Paulo, Brazil, 1976 to 1986. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This Thesis is about urban movements: the role of social actors and gender in the continuity of local level mobilization. It is specifically about the Health Movement of the Jardim Nordeste area, in the Eastern Zone of Sao Paulo. It covers the period between the origins of the movement in 1976, and 1986 when the field work was carried out. The movement studied is an example of non-institutionalized participation outside formalized politics. All the participants of this movement are women. As well as discussing the significance of this for the particular characteristics of the movement, the Thesis also addresses the crucial issue of the rise and fall of movements, and argues that what is important is process and continuity - not simply the finality of the movement. The assertion of the Thesis and its main theoretical contribution is that the involvement of women in such movements has specific effects in relation to the movements' emergence, evolution and continuity, an that one must therefore include gender as a contextual feature in any analysis of these movements. The relevance of studying women in particular has been clearly acknowledged throughout the literature on urban movements. This Thesis moves a step further, however, in analysing the nature of this relevance. In the process, in terms of policy design, it aids in clarifying how issues brought up by urban movements can be tackled. Although the Thesis covers only the first ten years, the movement has in fact continued, and, (unlike other similar movements), has been able to maintain its structure and to spread its influence over a wide surrounding area. Unlike other movements the Health Movement has been capable of developing and changing its demands and thus enhancing the motivation of those involved in it. The participation of women has been instrumental throughout.

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