Friday, August 28, 2009
cinturon de miseria
Cinturon de miseria - slum belt
This refers to the ring of slums around many (most?) cities in Latin America. Slum being rendered by Sebastian in the article I cited last week as ciudades misera was what helped me get this one. I don't like the term in either English or Spanish, as it seems to have a derogatory connotation. I prefer comunidades marginales or asentiamientos informales or something else more respectful.
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8 comments:
Hmm, that photo looks a lot like the cover of David Smilde's book: http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10723.php
I had no idea! Found it on a site that said it was for common use : )
An iconic image though, certainly.
Mmm, not sure about either. I like better "comunidades marginalizadas", to point to the fact that they're not marginal, they've been marginalized. Asentamientos informales works, but then you have to explain how arbitrary and strategic is the distinction between formal and informal. Any other ideas?
Did you know they're called "barrios nuevos" in Perú? But it also has a the derogatory idea of "newcomers" or "invaders" (which is always present in "barrios de invasión", which is widely used).
ooh yes! Marginalizadas is much better. Like racialized. I think that's the best of the lot.
ojo que en Argentina se llaman villas miserias - often shortened just to villas
and those who live there are called 'villeros'
I would definitely go with comunidades marginalizadas; great call, d.
Silvia
OK so the blog ate my comment... which was that I prefer marginalizadas myself. Going through some wake-up stuff trying to rent a place while Jim heals from his fall... they basically want great credit and a valid SS, which lets out most of the people I know! Talk about being 'marginalizado...' It's the new discrimination by credit report.
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