Author

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva is a U2 student currently pursuing a Joint Honours degree in Sociology and International Development Studies. Originally from Peru, she has a particular interest in the affairs of Latin American countries. Other interests include imperialism, neocolonisation, immigration, social structures of domination, and the prison system.

Modern Eugenics and the Racial Dynamics of ‘Better’ Breeding

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva Nov 30, 2020

Historically, the study of eugenics was used to advocate for the "improvement” of the human population, justifying concentration camps, medical experiments, and mass exterminations. Early supporters of eugenics even believed that people…
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Opinion | Cyclical Poverty and Class Solidarity in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva Feb 19, 2020

Bong's cinematography is famous for condemning capitalism while portraying layers of vulnerability and exploitation. Many of these themes are present throughout the movie. Above all, "Parasite" was a realistic lesson on the importance of…
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The Business of Punishment: The Prison Industrial Complex in the United States

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva Feb 3, 2020

The exploitation of prison labour by private corporations is “one aspect among an array of relationships linking corporations, government, correctional communities, and media,” known more broadly as the "prison industrial complex". The term…
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Chilean and Haitian Protests: The Impact of Nationalism on Revolutionary Movements

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva Nov 23, 2019

For countries like Chile and Haïti, nationalism has encouraged collective solidarity and has lead people to work for a national common good. These movements are lead by national self-determination sentiments as Global South countries try…
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“Sin agua no hay vida”: Indigenous Environmental Self-Determination in Bolivia

Ximena Ramirez Villanueva Oct 24, 2019

Indigenous communities, particularly those in Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, are working to combat growing multinational efforts aimed at commodifying water in Latin America. In communities both large and small, citizens are…
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