University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Redefining Resistance: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo echoes of trauma and memory in Argentina
Presenter Hometown
Oakland, NJ
Major
Homeland Security and Spanish
Department
Safety, Security, and Emergency Management
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Dra. Socorro Zaragoza
Mentor Department
Languages, Cultures, and Humanities
Recommended Citation
Kaye, Elizabeth J., "Redefining Resistance: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo echoes of trauma and memory in Argentina" (2025). University Presentation Showcase Event. 28.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2025/undergraduate/28
Abstract
Argentina's "Dirty War" (1976–1983) stands as one of the darkest and most painful periods in the nation’s history. During these years, the military dictatorship, known as the "Proceso de Reorganización Nacional," implemented a systematic campaign of state terrorism, targeting suspected political protesters, activists, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. Widespread kidnappings, illegal detentions, and forced disappearances became routine, with an estimated 30,000 people vanishing without a trace. Families were left in despair, searching for answers that the government refused to provide. In response, a group of determined mothers, known as “Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo”, formed a powerful movement demanding justice for their missing children. Beginning in 1977, they gathered every Thursday in the Plaza de Mayo, courageously marching with white head scarves embroidered with their children's names. Their peaceful yet persistent protests captured international attention, making them enduring symbols of resistance, human rights advocacy, and the fight for truth. Though the dictatorship ended in 1983, the struggle for justice remains ongoing. Many perpetrators have been prosecuted, yet challenges persist in ensuring full accountability. This proposal examines the evolution of Las Madres, the obstacles they faced, and their continued fight to honor the memory of the disappeared and seek justice
Presentation format
Poster
Redefining Resistance: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo echoes of trauma and memory in Argentina
Argentina's "Dirty War" (1976–1983) stands as one of the darkest and most painful periods in the nation’s history. During these years, the military dictatorship, known as the "Proceso de Reorganización Nacional," implemented a systematic campaign of state terrorism, targeting suspected political protesters, activists, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens. Widespread kidnappings, illegal detentions, and forced disappearances became routine, with an estimated 30,000 people vanishing without a trace. Families were left in despair, searching for answers that the government refused to provide. In response, a group of determined mothers, known as “Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo”, formed a powerful movement demanding justice for their missing children. Beginning in 1977, they gathered every Thursday in the Plaza de Mayo, courageously marching with white head scarves embroidered with their children's names. Their peaceful yet persistent protests captured international attention, making them enduring symbols of resistance, human rights advocacy, and the fight for truth. Though the dictatorship ended in 1983, the struggle for justice remains ongoing. Many perpetrators have been prosecuted, yet challenges persist in ensuring full accountability. This proposal examines the evolution of Las Madres, the obstacles they faced, and their continued fight to honor the memory of the disappeared and seek justice
