Karina Pacheco: “For centuries we have read literature written by men, it is time to listen to women” | INTERVIEW

Karina Pacheco is a writer with great protagonism in the Peruvian cultural scene. Her training as an anthropologist gives her literary production a broad view of discrimination, racism and political violence; characteristics to which she adds a critical vision of gender and diversity.

Sixteen years after the publication of her first novel “La will del molle”, she will be honored at the Fourth Meeting of Peruvian Women Writers, held by the North American Peruvian Cultural Institute (ICPNA). Same as, in past editions, celebrated the career of the writer Rosella Di Paolo, the historian María Emma Mannarelli and the poet Mariela Dreyfus.

“I felt honored and happy. I believe that in Peru there are great storytellers, writers and researchers with important publications and being honored by them makes me feel good. At the same time, it also makes me recognize that there are other great writers, pioneers on many occasions, who have opened doors for those of us who came after”, Pacheco comments in conversation with El Comercio.

The relevance of the event lies in the creation of a space that allows Peruvian writers to meet each other and interact with Peruvian readers on political, cultural or economic issues.

“Opening spaces to listen to the voices of women in different social fields is very important. Our areas are not limited to the domestic, so creating meetings [donde la protagonista sea la mujer] help to achieve the equality that we demand so much”.

Pacheco explains that, in a country where the best-selling books are mostly written by men, it is important to highlight the work carried out by national researchers and writers with a view to increasing female participation in the literary scene, as well as combating negative and repetitive stereotypes with which women have historically been portrayed.

“I think that a great contribution of our literature is to give greater prominence and dimension to female characters. Issues related to the intimacy of the body and female desire are addressed by men many times from sexualization“, Explain. She also reflects on the importance of knowing the perspective of women on issues of political conflicts such as war, where although there is a field of war, it can also be discussed from the intimate and the violated body.

In general, the author of “The Year of the Wind” clarifies that, although the topics covered have in common the search for the vindication of women in society, it does not mean that the topics are limited to criticism of machismo or the misogyny. “For centuries we have read literature written by men, it is time to listen to women, since swe are still dominated by the prejudice that women write only about certain topics and men are the experts. ”.

It highlights the work in different fields of writers such as Victoria Guerrero Peirano, from poetry; Rocío Silva Santisteban in the essay, the non-fiction writings of Roxana Crisología Correa and newer voices such as Valeria Román Marroquín or Fiorella Moreno.

Other historical references that he considers inescapable are Mercedes Cabello de Carbonera and Clorinda Matto de Turner. Authors that he asks not only be analyzed for their writing, but also for being referents and pioneers in literary production, a fact that opened doors for the current generation.

“They accompanied each other, hugged each other and dedicated books to each other. All that, which we believe is very modern, had already been done. They were sororas and questioned the things that bothered them in much more difficult times. It always seems important to me to remember all the way they opened”.

In these years, when Peruvian women’s literature has become more relevant, prejudice in society continues. Even in bookstores these productions are classified as “feminist literature”, and although several of the writers do support the movement, not everything that is written fits that description.

A similar panorama is found in poetry. “There is the idea that being a poet is something minor, and that it is about very silly writings with nursery rhymes. When I say that I am a writer, they think that I am a poet, and not a novelist. With all the respect that the great and great poets deserve, the idea that a woman always writes about love and how beautiful the flower and the moon are is a very strong prejudice”.

Pacheco’s desire in the literary field is that both men and women can discuss different topics as equals. For that reason, she invites all readers to attend the event on the last three remaining dates, in order to give themselves the opportunity to listen to the perspectives of writers on common problems in the literary field and to engage in a dialogue with different approaches.