Virtual village: Zapotec migrants in the digital era
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Document Type
Contribution to a Book
Publication Title
Handbook of Culture and Migration
DOI
10.4337/9781789903461.00040
First Page
372
Last Page
385
Abstract
For many years, mountain Zapotec villagers in Talea de Castro have sought to improve connections with the outside world, by telegraph, road, radio, and telephone. Since the end of World War II, thousands of villagers have emigrated out of the region, to work in Mexican urban centres and in the United States. Many of these migrants have retained a strong sense of identity that is closely connected with their hometown. In 2013, Talea created its own community-based cell phone network, which allowed migrants to communicate in new ways with friends and family both within the village and without, via text messaging and social media. This chapter analyzes some of the ways that Talean migrants are using Facebook, YouTube, and other forms of communication. It also examines the possibilities and pitfalls presented by the new technologies.
Department
Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Roberto J. González. "Virtual village: Zapotec migrants in the digital era" Handbook of Culture and Migration (2021): 372-385. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903461.00040
