Master's Thesis Defense of Rachel Santarsiero

You are cordially invited to attend the master's thesis defense of Rachel Santarsiero, a candidate for the Master of Science and Technology for Innovation in Global Development degree in the Social Science and Policy Studies (SSPS) Department on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The title of the thesis is “Haunting Prospects in Morocco: The Ghosts of Imider’s Long Fight for Water Rights,” and the abstract is provided below:

 This thesis investigates how the Moroccan commune of Imider is still grappling with the impact of silver mining on groundwater and soil contamination following the 2011 "Movement on the Road ‘96 (MOR96). The focus is on how rural women in Imider embody environmental and indigenous rights through their relationship with the land, water, and Tamazight language. The study explores how women demonstrate oblique resistance through their narratives, daily chores, artistic expression, and ritualistic practices, which differs from the masculine resistance form of the movement. The theoretical frameworks used are Avery Gordon's haunting and Sara Ahmed's affect theory to show how Imider's rural women are uniquely haunted by the MOR96, disrupting dominant narratives around Amazigh ethnic identity and the Kingdom of Morocco's commitments to indigenous rights, gender parity, and environmentalism.

What: Rachel Santarsiero’s Thesis Defense

When: Wednesday, April 19 at 10am

Where: Gordon Library Conference Room 303 and Zoom (email cbrown2@wpi.edu for Zoom information)

Light refreshments will be provided.