Work

Forensic feminism in action: hybrid forensic knowledge and the search for the disappeared in Mexico

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article argues that the search for disappeared persons in Mexico has transformed forensic practices by placing families – especially women buscadoras – at the centre of knowledge production, creating hybrid forms of forensic and political expertise that challenge institutional frameworks and redefine notions of dignity and personhood. To support this argument, the article first outlines the historical emergence of the ‘forensic turn’ in Mexico, with attention to what I call ‘forensic feminism’. It also critiques the legal concept of ‘clandestine graves’ and proposes the broader notion of ‘clandestine spaces of disappearance’. Next, it presents two case studies from Veracruz to illustrate how hybrid forensic knowledge is produced in practice. Finally, it examines interactions between authorities and families during exhumations to show how differing conceptions of the person shape forensic processes.

Source: Human Remains and Violence An Interdisciplinary Journal

DOI: 10.7227/hrv.12.2.4

Author: Sabrina Melenotte

Institutions: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unite de recherche migrations et sociétés

Language: English

Topic: Memory, violence, and history

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $613