Feminism, Anthropology and Literature: Who is Rita Segato, Opening Officer of the Buenos Aires Book Fair 2019

Finally, it was revealed. After many distributed versions (one of the most widespread has indicated that the manager this year could be the former director of the National Library, Horacio González), we learned: it will be Rita Segato, Argentine anthropologist recognized and one of the most incisive and respected voices in debates about feminism and gender violence, the person who will deliver the opening address of the next edition of the Buenos Aires Book Fair.

In recent times, the name of Rita Segato you hear in all kinds of forums, clbades and lectures, while your books, especially The war against women (Prometheus) – circulates heavily among those who want to know more about issues related to gender and feminism. However, many people outside of these questions will wonder who he is, what his career is and why his figure has so much weight.

You must start by saying that Segato is Argentinian, that he was born in Buenos Aires in 1951 and that he graduated from the National School of Buenos Aires, the Municipal Conservatory of Falla Textbook and from the National School of Dance. He graduated in anthropology at the University of Buenos Aires. Then, he studied in several places, in different specializations and taught courses. He lives today in Brasilia (Brazil) and another in Tilcara (Jujuy).

His research has focused on gender issues in Indigenous Peoples and Latin American communities and on the relationships between gender, racism and colonialism. He was one of the first voices to say that Sexual crimes are not such, but must be considered as "crimes of power, domination, punishment".

It was in 1993 that he tackled the badysis of violence against women by an order of the Government of the city of Brasilia. Something in this area, so little explored for the moment, has sown the need to devote itself entirely to these investigations. So much so that he studied gender-based violence until his recent retirement.

One of the most interesting positions of his thought is to focus on the socialization of men because, he says, the first victim of patriarchy is the man, who receives a specific education and this mandate acts of masculinity. In addition, his badysis also focuses on the role of the state in social bonds.

However, Segato is not adamant about the offender's recidivism. "It is imperative to think that every human being can change, it is sometimes very difficult. You have to give the conditions to be able to do it, conditions that are not given for the moment, "he said in an interview for 2017.

Among his books stand out The basic structures of violence (2003) The nation and its others (2007) and New forms of war and women's bodies (2014). The researcher has won several awards and honors, including the Latin American and Caribbean Social Science Prize CLACSO 50 years, as well as the honorary doctorate degree from Entre Ríos Autonomous University and the University of California. National University of Salta.

With all these medals, it's that Rita Segato will deliver the opening address at the 2019 Book Fair, to be held from April 23 to May 13. Previous years were Claudia Piñeiro in 2018 and Luisa Valenzuela in 2017This time, it will also be the turn of a woman. Expectations are always generated, but this year, with the times of feminist revolutions happening, more is expected. You will have to go to La Rural and listen to it speak.