The most prominent Human Ecology among the Mayas in Yucatan, México (I)

The most prominent Human Ecology among the Mayas in Yucatan, México (I)
2003. The green gold, Yucarán, (Mexico) Francisco Martín © Proyecto Maya y Francisco Martín

The most prominent Human Ecology among the Mayas in Yucatan, México (I)

A large percentage of Mayas are poor. In general, they can only find unskilled work with very low wages. Children help with the housework and many of them work for an hour or more before starting school in the morning. Since the 1970s, the development of tourist resorts along the coast of Quintana Roo State (like Cancun) brought about many socioeconomic and cultural changes for the local Mayas. The men worked as builders in the first phase of this development. Later, the young men started working as tourist guides, waiters, bellboys and in other services.

The production of sisal (Agave sisalana) had its golden age in Yucatan between 1880 and 1930. This period was known as the “age of slavery” by Maya labourers due to the harsh working conditions and very low pay.

 

Inés Varela-Silva, professor and researcher at Loughborough University (United Kingdom)