Body, word and recognition: narratives about suicide from Chiapas

Abstract

This paper includes some of the reflections that arose around an investigation on the phenomenon of suicide carried out in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, (2016 to 2018). This work was possible thanks to a grant from CONACYT, destined to study a master's degree in Social Anthropology at CIESAS-Sureste. During this period of time, fieldwork was carried out within a self-managed group and mutual aid for those affected by suicide, as well as in-depth interviews with some of its participants. Both experiences are recounted in the following pages. The structure of the writing is given in three levels. As a macro level and introduction to the phenomenon in question, we present some concepts proposed by contemporary sociologists and anthropologists, as well as by some of their early scholars within the Western tradition. At the meso level, the experience of fieldwork in the self-managed mutual aid group for suicide survivors in San Cristóbal de Las Casas is recounted. Finally, we analyze the experience of the phenomenon of doors inside, walking with tenacity the path proposed by the voices collected in the in-depth interviews. The conclusions will offer the reflections resulting from all these experiences.