Chicherias were the heart and soul of the chola neighborhoods of Sucre during the Bolivian national period. Though these chola were first considered to be just women with elite sexual connections, their societal roles changed dramatically between 1870 and 1930. The women that ran these maize-beer taverns controlled both the social networks as well as the most important public spaces in those neighborhoods. Consequently, due to their heavy involvement in gossip and politics, chicheras were also the most involved in legal suits of any other class of citizen in Sucre during this time.
In addition to various secondary source journal articles and books, Hames draws primarily upon court records from Sucre during this time. Since primary source materials from women are a rarity throughout most of history, court transcripts are one of the only available ways to accurately hear these women’s voices in their own words. Hames notes that she found …show more content…
The social influence that these spaces and their owners had on the working-class, chola neighborhoods they were located in was astounding. They controlled and distributed the neighborhood news and gossip on citizens of all social classes, occupations, and racial backgrounds. This also led to numerous accusations of petty crimes such as public slander being brought to Sucre legal courts. Later on, once they more firmly established their social authority in Sucre around the turn of the century, chicheras began to select who could and could not frequent their establishments. This was a very public form of social control. They became even bolder in their secret-spilling and condemnations throughout the next few decades. Chicheras were often portrayed as clever pilferers, always waiting to take advantage of the next vulnerable soul, which is opposite of the bartender stereotype we see in other more modern
In addition to various secondary source journal articles and books, Hames draws primarily upon court records from Sucre during this time. Since primary source materials from women are a rarity throughout most of history, court transcripts are one of the only available ways to accurately hear these women’s voices in their own words. Hames notes that she found …show more content…
The social influence that these spaces and their owners had on the working-class, chola neighborhoods they were located in was astounding. They controlled and distributed the neighborhood news and gossip on citizens of all social classes, occupations, and racial backgrounds. This also led to numerous accusations of petty crimes such as public slander being brought to Sucre legal courts. Later on, once they more firmly established their social authority in Sucre around the turn of the century, chicheras began to select who could and could not frequent their establishments. This was a very public form of social control. They became even bolder in their secret-spilling and condemnations throughout the next few decades. Chicheras were often portrayed as clever pilferers, always waiting to take advantage of the next vulnerable soul, which is opposite of the bartender stereotype we see in other more modern