Vulnerability and resilience of indigenous women through the COVID–19 pandemic: experiences from rural Guatemala

The COVID–19 is the fifth global pandemic categorized as such by the World Health Or-ganization (WHO) and it has significantly impacted the livelihoods of communities across the world. Indigenous people and women are especially vulnerable population to the dis-ease as well as to the economic and social consequences of the measures taken to cope with the pandemic. This study uses the concepts of vulnerability and resilience to under-stand the social and economic impact for indigenous women in rural Guatemala, as well as to understand how they are dealing individually and collectively with the crisis. The study finds that poverty and informal economy put them at a higher risk, with many facing signif-icant difficulties with food security. Other difficulties along with loss of income include dis-trust, educational difficulties, lack of access to health services and mental health issues. It is observed a disconnect between national policies and with the inability to make decisions and set measures at a local level, which decreased its ability to cope with the difficulties. The coping mechanisms at a household level included using formal employment of one member to support the family, entrepreneurship and growing their own food. At a commu-nity level, it was highlighted the social cohesion through neighbor solidarity as well as orga-nized cooperation and volunteer work.