Joselyn Salazar ’22

Major: Political Science with self-designed minor in Latin American Studies
Project: The Securitization of Ecuadorian Indigenous Women
Advisor: Faith Okpotor, associate professor of political science

Joselyn Salazar ’22 found a unique entry to her research. A paper that she wrote for an International Security class evolved into a research experience. “After grading my proposal, Dr. Okpotor thought the project could be more than just the 10-page essay,” Salazar explains.

Salazar’s project focuses on the insecurities faced by indigenous Ecuadorian women, who, she says, are forced to grapple with patriarchal ideologies perpetuated by a society that marginalizes these women based on both race and gender. Salazar argues that the Ecuadorian state needs to integrate the rights of Ecuadorian indigenous women into its national security agenda, a stance established on experiences of these women and analysis of national coverage of a series of protests.

This data was not always easy for Salazar to find.

“My biggest obstacle was gathering the data on the appearances of indigenous women in national media,” she shares. “I used Google News in order to fill in those gaps.”

The protests that Salazar uncovered immobilized Ecuador’s economy and agricultural sector as women expressed their discontent. Using the framework of Feminist Security Studies, Salazar compiled her analysis of these women’s experiences with a lack of political, economic, and physical security into a research paper that she is now refining for publication.

Salazar presented her research at the Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA) conference in November of 2022.