Book Review Beyond Repair: Mayan Women’s Protagonism in the Aftermath of Genocidal Harm

Abstract

As we enter into the third decade of the 21st century the number of enduring national and international conflicts and global crises that threaten human wellbeing are constant reminders to community researchers of the need to identify and practice methodologies that confront and address injustice. Where contemporary and emergent threats are frequent focuses of both media headlines and individual consciousness, it is necessary to consider connections between these threats and historical legacies of colonization and white supremacy culture. Moreover, it is essential to ensure that the voices, concerns, and well-being of members of communities who have been disadvantaged under these systems are heard, prioritized, and amplified when seeking to address past injustice and mitigate future conflict and threat. Researchers seeking to practice methodologies that are driven by these aims must honor the agency of marginalized community members, without neglecting how the harm of disenfranchisement shapes individual and collective subjectivity. Beyond Repair: Mayan Women’s Protagonism in the Aftermath of Genocidal Harm offers powerful illustration of methods and concepts central to this goal, and is valuable reading to anyone involved in community-based research related to transitional justice, human rights, and feminist social change.