Children of the Revolution
SociologyAndrea, Silvia, Ana, and Pamela were impoverished youth when the Sandinista revolution took hold in Nicaragua in 1979. Against the backdrop of a war and economic crisis, the revolution gave them hope of a better future — if not for themselves, then for their children. But, when it became clear that their hopes were in vain, they chose to emigrate. Children of the Revolution tells these four women's stories up to their adulthood in Italy. Laura J. Enríquez's compassionate account highlights the particularities of each woman's narrative, and shows how their lives were shaped by social factors such as their class, gender, race, ethnicity, and immigration status. These factors limited the options available to them, even as the women challenged the structures and violence surrounding them. By extending the story to include the children, and now grandchildren, of the four women, Enríquez demonstrates how their work abroad provided opportunities for their families that they themselves never had. Hence, these stories reveal that even when a revolution fails to fundamentally transform a society in a lasting way, seeds of change may yet take hold.
"Enríquez's meticulously analyzed oral history makes the case that even when revolutions falter, newly ignited consciousness remains and fuels agentic migration trajectories, yielding both generational sacrifices and gains."—Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, author of Doméstica
"Children of the Revolution: Violence, Inequality, and Hope in Nicaraguan Migration serves as a living testimony to the intersections of race, place, and gender. Through rich interview data, Enriquez explores the compelling lived experiences of women who suffered unspeakable hardship, witnessed remarkable societal change, and broke cycles from previous generations to build opportunities and safety for their children."—Karolina Staros, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity