The ethnography by Christine Eber outlines the essential issues of gender roles, domestic violence, culture, and intake of alcohol among women in highland Chiapas. Eber contextualizes the research within the religious, cultural, and historical structure. She discusses both the positive and negative factors of alcohol based on the historical context. In the past, alcohol was used to unite people, empower drinkers, and continue traditional standards and beliefs. On the negative aspect, alcohol led to violence and negligence of roles. Both men and women have a domestic role to play. However, taking alcohol may destroy a person’s judgment in understanding good and evil.
Eber points out that alcohol augmented domestic violence affecting women and children. Power struggles between highland communities were prevalent. Eber asserts that Protestant churches' entrance offered the community an opportunity to venture into a capitalist economic system. Most of the people enhanced their living conditions by abstaining from taking alcohol. As well, the Catholic Church enabled communities to organize small teams that ascertained the source of political subjugation and economic exploitation. However, women were reluctant to participate in politics despite domestic gender relations.
The author outlines how the 1990s resulted in a firm resolve of women to improve their lives and mitigate alcohol consequences. According to Eber, women started participating in economic activities such as baking and weaving. Indeed, today women can push for a ban on alcohol. Women have their rights as wives, which they can exercise to prevent their husbands from taking alcohol.
