Abstract

SANS, Mónica. Indigenous Invisibility in Uruguay: Genetics, History, and Gender. Runa [online]. 2022, vol.43, n.2, pp.191-215.  Epub June 27, 2022. ISSN 1851-9628.  http://dx.doi.org/10.34096/runa.v43i2.10722.

The Uruguayan population has traditionally been considered “without Indians.” After almost 150 years, in 1996 the population began to be questioned about “ethnicity or race”, included in the 2011 Census questions. In this, 2.4% of the population recognized the indigenous as the main ancestry, and 5.1% declared having indigenous ancestors, differently from what was observed when studying maternal or autosomal genetic ancestry (35 and 14% of indigenous contribution, respectively). This situation is similar in other countries of the region, whose data will be briefly discussed. The facts that could lead to the invisibility of the indigenous people and their descendants, such as their geographical location and socioeconomic level, will also be analyzed. In particular, the gender of those who became part of the national society will be considered, and the lack of voice of women for a long period, since it was indigenous women who were mostly integrated into the national society.

Keywords : History; Identity; Censuses; Genetic ancestry.

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