This timeline traces the development of the Activismos feministas en América Latina web archive, a collection created to preserve the digital presence of feminist organizations, networks, and advocacy initiatives across the region. It situates the archive within broader histories of feminist activism, digital communication, and efforts to document social movements in the web era.
The events presented here highlight key moments in the creation of the collection, from the recognition of the vulnerability of digital heritage to the selection and preservation of websites through Archive-It. The timeline also documents research activities, presentations, and public engagement initiatives that have emerged from the archive.
Ultimately, the timeline invites visitors to reflect on what is remembered, what is lost, and why preserving digital traces matters for understanding the histories and futures of feminist activism in Latin America.
Timeline
Table of Events
| Date | Event | Created by |
|---|---|---|
| December, 2019 | A Feminist Movement Sparks a Preservation InitiativeDecember 2019, an “Ofrenda de Muertos” (a traditional Mexican memorial altar created to honor and remember those who have passed away) was organized to pay respects to Sonia, a university professor murdered by her husband. The memorial became the catalyst for a broader feminist student movement demanding justice, accountability, and institutional measures against gender-based violence. This moment marked the beginning of a process that would later inspire the creation of Huellas Incómodas. |
Rosario Rogel-Salazar |
| Between March and November 2020 | Creating Huellas Incómodas: A Community Archive for Feminist MemoryTo preserve the traces of feminist activism that were rapidly disappearing from public spaces and social media, the Huellas Incómodas project was launched in 2020. Developed in Omeka with support from the Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities (IDRH) at the University of Kansas, the platform invited activists to contribute photographs, descriptions, locations, and Creative Commons licenses, creating a community-driven archive of feminist memory. |
Rosario Rogel-Salazar |
| Throughout 2021 | Expanding Huellas Incómodas to EcuadorHuellas Incómodas expanded to Ecuador through a collaboration with faculty members and students from the University of Cuenca. The project documented feminist interventions that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, including activities surrounding the bridge later renamed Vivas las Queremos. The site became a symbol of remembrance and resistance, where activists publicly recorded the names and numbers of women affected by gender-based violence. |
Rosario Rogel-Salazar |
| Throughout 2022 | Identifying the Need for Web ArchivingWhile analyzing feminist digital resources across Latin America, the project identified dozens of websites that documented activism, advocacy, and community organizing but lacked any form of web preservation. Many of these sites were vulnerable to redesign, disappearance, or domain loss. This realization expanded the project’s focus beyond physical interventions and highlighted the urgent need to preserve feminist digital heritage. |
Rosario Rogel-Salazar |
| Throughout 2022 | Launching the Activismos feministas en América Latina Web ArchiveIn response to the absence of web preservation initiatives for feminist organizations in the region, Huellas Incómodas created the Activismos feministas en América Latina collection using Archive-It. The archive brought together websites from across Latin America, preserving evidence of feminist organizing, advocacy, education, and community-building efforts. The collection remains one of the few dedicated web archives focused specifically on feminist movements in the region. |
Rosario Rogel-Salazar |