Contradictions that Endure: Family Norms, Social Reproduction, and Rafael Correa's Citizen Revolution in Ecuador

Resumen

Upon entering office in 2007, socialist Rafael Correa launched his Citizen Revolution in Ecuador, with the aim of establishing a postneoliberal order. His antineoliberal political discourse called for a “living well” (i.e., buen vivir in spanish; sumaq kawsay in Quichua) development model that favored solidarity over competition and sustainability over economic growth. It also called for increased political inclusivity and a form of redistribution that reaches a broader range of citizens. In line with other Latin American populist-socialist leaders, such as Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia, Correa claimed that his revolution “has a woman's face.” Yet personally, Correa is a devout Catholic and trained economist who opposes abortion and homosexuality and favors a traditional familial model—one that reinforces a notion of “modern economic man” that is both Eurocentric and heteronormative.