No te pierdas la presentación del libro “¿Una banca revolucionaria? La historia de Nora Castañeda y BanMujer” en la 21. ª edición de la FILVEN 2025. 📚 ¡Te esperamos!

Fundado en 2001 por la economista y activista feminista Nora Castañeda, el Banco de Desarrollo de la Mujer es un pilar clave en Venezuela para la independencia económica femenina.

  • Angeleri, Sandra, Maria Mercedes Cobo e Yris Martin “¿Una banca revolucionaria? La historia de Nora Castañeda y BanMujer” El Perro y la Rana, Caracas, 2025

A Revolutionary Banker? The History of Nora Castañeda and the Women's Bank 
ISBN 978-980-14-5771-8



By Sandra Angeleri

Prologue

This book is written from the perspective of someone who knew Nora Castañeda for decades and also invested a significant amount of her life interviewing others who also knew her at different stages of her life, distilling those interviews to assess what she felt contributed most to a kaleidoscope of that friend, professor, and colleague.

The author of this book, Sandra Angeleri, was someone special to Nora Castañeda. I met them both in the second half of the 1980s within the academic circles of the UCV, where we shared ideas and dreams. I also know that for Sandra, writing this book, compiling and systematizing everything that many of us had to say about Nora over the decades, was an emotionally and intellectually demanding task. It was a task that gave us an order and a framework through which to understand a figure who, ten years after her physical disappearance and the sowing of her life in our memories and hearts, her spirit, her legacy, and her actions remain in the affections and minds of thousands of Venezuelans.

There are many elements I could highlight about the life, work, character, and teachings inside and outside the classroom of the beloved professor and economist Nora Castañeda: her remarkable humility, her vocation for service, her unwavering revolutionary conviction, the gentleness with which she expressed her firm beliefs, her passionate dedication to serving the poorest, among many other things. However, I have chosen to highlight two, just two that—especially in the times we are going through—seem appropriate and significant as life practices in our times: honesty and consistency between her words and actions. Since the days of the Coordinator of Women's Non-Governmental Organizations (CONG-M), which existed from 1984 to 1992 and included women of the most diverse political tendencies and positions, Nora, in an affirmation of her belief in the value of supporting grassroots initiatives and unity in diversity, along with another professor, rented a space out of her own pocket so we could all meet and discuss upcoming actions to be developed within the framework of CONG-M. These coordination actions benefited workers fired for being pregnant or women victims of gender-based violence, or any other similar violence.

Over the years, renouncing any hint of vanity, she used part of her university professor's salary to support women in pain, people in situations of helplessness and need, and causes that benefited the poor, peasants, or the disadvantaged. That same behavior is reflected much later in this book, when we recall that she didn't receive her salary as president of the Women's Development Bank and what she did with it, which, with her always modest behavior, only a few people knew about, and which she never boasted about. She was a person of exceptional behavior who made all of us around her believe that it was simple and that we could do the same or something similar. Thus, consciously or unconsciously, she built emulation of her behavior and actions.

I don't know whether to call it political stubbornness or unwavering consistency between what she said and her actions in the public and private spheres. Which, for any politician, is an extremely difficult standard and, in most cases, unattainable, was a lifelong endeavor in which we didn't see her fail, although many of us will find it surprising. Perhaps that's what utopias are all about: trying not to give up on achieving what some call impossible. Perhaps it was from her behavior, which was exactly as her word indicated, and from her modesty and infinite selflessness that she was given the nickname "Red Nun," coined for her by Adícea Castillo, a classmate at school and at work (Faces UCV) and a politician in the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR).

Curriculum Vitae

July 2025

 

Sandra V. Angeleri

17463 Plaza Dolores,
San Diego, CA, 92128

 

+1 858 705 9789

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https://sandraangeleri.com

 

Research Areas: Latin American ethnic and women social movements; Latin America and Venezuela contemporary history.

Education

Academic Positions

  • Universidad Central de Venezuela, Anthropology Department, retired as associate professor in September 2019.
  • Associate professor, Sub-Departmental area: Theories and Methods,Department of Anthropology, Economic and Social Sciences Division, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1991-2019.
  • Chair of the Department of Theories and Methodsin Anthropology, 2015-2019.
  • FUNDACREDESA(Fundación Centro de Estudios Sobre Crecimiento y Desarrollo de la Población Venezolana - Study Center on Venezuelan Population Development and Growth) Social Sciences Division Director, Caracas, Venezuela, 2010-2013.
  • Teaching Coordinator of the Academic Group creating the Audiovisual Department of the Experimental University of the Arts (UNEARTE), Caracas, Venezuela. 2009-2010.
  • Coordinator of the Committee for Virtual Education, Escuela de Antropología de la UCV (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2005-2008.
  • Coordinator, I-V Jornada Nacional Universitaria de Investigación en Género(First to Fifth National University Research on Gender Congresses), “La perspectiva de género en la construcción de los saberes” (“Gender Perspective on knowledge building”), Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Humanidades y Educación y Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales (Los Andes University, Humanities and Education, and Social and Economical Sciences Divisions), 2006-2010.
  • Teaching Coordinator, Women 's Center Studies, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1995-1998.
  • Founder and coordinator, Women 's Documentation Center (Tecla Tofano), Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1994-1995.

Courses Taught

  • Professor, University of California, Riverside (UCR), Hispanic Studies Department, Survey of literary movements and trends and major writers of medieval and Golden Age Spanish literature. “Gestas y letras manufacturando la modernidad española desde el espacio biográfico” (Deeds and letters manufacturing Spanish modernity from the biographical space), Spring/2022.
  • Professor, University of California, Riverside (UCR), Hispanic Studies Department, Survey of Spanish American Literature, Modernismo. “América Latina y el Caribe: imaginarios y literatura”, Spring/2022.
  • Professor, University of California, Riverside (UCR), Hispanic Studies Department, Spanish and Latin American Cultural Studies: Violence and Representation “Disputas por la representación de la violencia en América Latina y el Caribe” (Disputes over the representation of violence in Latin America and the Caribbean), Winter/2022.
  • Professor, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Sociales (Venezuelan Scientific Institute of Social Research), Centro de Estudios de Transformaciones Sociales (Center for the Study of Social Transformations), 2017-2019.
  • Professor, seminar Caribbean Ethnogenesis,Centro de Altos Estudios “Gual y España” y Centro de Saberes Africanos (“Gual y España” High Center for Studies and African Knowledge) Caracas, Venezuela, 2015-2017.
  • Professor, course Gender and Power,Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Escuela de Antropología (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2010-2018.
  • Professor, seminar Introduction to the Study of Racism in Venezuela,Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Escuela de Antropología (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2013-2018.
  • UCSB, Conference, Global South Lecture Series, "From the Revolutionary Cartesian Subject to the Revolutionary 21st Century Subject", May 2016.
  • UCSB, Conference, Global South Lecture Series, “The Bolivarian Experience”, May 2016.
  • Professor, seminar Sandra Angeleri: Congreso Internacional “Afrocaribe somos”,Instituto de Investigaciones Estratégicas sobre África y su Diáspora (Centro de Saberes Africanos), Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos Rómulo Gallegos (Celarg) Caracas, Venezuela, febrero 13, 2014.
  • Professor, seminar Sandra Angeleri: la función del racismo es establecer y legitimar una dominaciónFundación Afroamiga, Caracas, Venezuela, marzo 21, 2013.
  • Conferencia "La Mujer en la Revolución Bolivariana. Las difíciles relaciones entre el género, la nación y el socialismo," A cargo de la Dra. Sandra Angeleri, (Escuela de Antropología de la Universidad Central de Venezuela). Grupo Multidisciplinario de Estudios de Género (GMEG), Programa “Género, cuerpo y sexualidad” (Instituto de Ciencias Antropológicas/CEIL), Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación), Uruguay, 19 de febrero 2011.
  • Professor, course Anthropology Theories, and Methods Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Escuela de Antropología (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2010-2016.
  • Professor, course National Ethnic Debates,Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Escuela de Antropología (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2007-2008.
  • Professor, course Introduction to the Study of Anthropology,Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Escuela de Antropología, (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 2005-2006.
  • Professor, course Documentary Research Techniques,Escuela de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales, Universidad Central de Venezuela (Department of Anthropology, Central University of Venezuela), 1989-1997.
  • Co-Researcher of the Program “Towards a new political model: strengthening and democratization of public politics” (Co-Investigadora del Programa “Hacia un nuevo modelo político: fortalecimiento y democratización de la gestión pública, Laboratory on Social and Cultural Anthropology (Laboratorio de Antropología Social y Cultural), La Universidad del Zulia, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Venezuela, 1999-2005.
  • Member of the Research Group “Reshaping the Americas: narratives of place,” Spring 2002 Residential Research Group, University of California, Irvine, California, USA, 2002.
  • Member of the Research Group “Reshaping the Americas Narratives of Place”, UCSD, in Oaxaca, Mexico, May 2001.
  • Teaching Coordinator, Center of Women 's Study (Centro de Estudios de la Mujer), Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, 1995-1997.
  • Teaching Assistant, Ethnic Studies Department, University of California, San Diego, 2002-2004.
  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Literature, University of California, San Diego, 2000-2001.
  • Professor, Area Seminar: Colombia, Department of International Affairs, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1988-1994.
  • Professor, Venezuelan Economical History, Department of Economy, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1988-1994.

Publications
Books (and articles in books)

Articles in Academic Journals.

Awards and Distinctions

  • Ethnic Studies Department University of California, San Diego Fellowship Winter, 2003.
  • Dean's Social Science Research Travel Grant, University of California, San Diego, 2002.
  • Travel Grant, Ethnic Studies Department, University of California, San Diego, Summer-Fall 2002.
  • The University of California Humanities Research Institute. Project Resident Research Group, Graduate Student Fellowship in the "Reshaping the Americas: Narratives of Place," University of California, Irvine, spring 2002.
  • CILAS/ Field Work Research Grant, University of California, San Diego, 2001.
  • Friends of the International Center Award, University of California, San Diego, 2000.
  • CILAS/Tinker Field Research Grant, University of California, San Diego, 1999.
  • Merit Professor Level III Venezuelan National Commission of the System for Merit Awards to Professors of Venezuelan Federal Universities, 1998.
  • Researcher Promotion Award, Academic vice-Rector, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1996.
  • Outstanding Magister Thesis Award. Social Sciences Division, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1996.

Affiliations

  • Member, Working Group Crisis, respuestas y alternativas en el Gran Caribe(Crisis, Answers and Alternatives in the Great Caribbean), CLACSO (Latin American Council of Social Sciences).
  • Member, La araña feminista, Venezuela.
  • Member, Fundación Afroamiga, Venezuela.
  • Member, Plan Pueblo a Pueblo, Venezuela.

 

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Presentación del libro ¿Una banca revolucionaria

La historia de Nora Castañeda y su liderazgo en el Banco de Desarrollo de la Mujer de Venezuela de Sandra Angeleri. A cargo de María Mercedes Cobo e Yris Martín.

 

Clase Abierta orientada por Sandra Angeleri, Doctora en Estudios Étnicos por la Universidad de California, San Diego

En el marco del Seminario de "Antropología y Género" -2024, la profesora Angeleri presenta una aproximación al estudio del racismo en Venezuela mediante una revisión de enfoques teóricos, metodológicos e históricos que contraponen el estudio del racismo de la tradición antropológica latinoamericana a la centralidad de la mujer en el proceso de la configuración del mito de la democracia racial e institucional venezolana sus investigaciones realzan los aportes de las mujeres venezolanas, feministas o no, que abogan por alianzas y comunidades donde el amor por la diversidad y la palabra construyen espacios democráticos.

 

 

12 de octubre: La historia no contada de América

Tertulia virtual organizada por la Revista Cuerpo y Territorio. Este lunes 12 de octubre, distintas voces latinoamericanas se reúnen virtualmente para reflexionar. Desde Perú la psicóloga y psicoanalista Ailín Navas; desde California, EE. UU. la historiadora Sandra Angeleri; desde Venezuela el sociólogo Emiliano Terán y desde Argentina, el internacionalista Sebastián Casco.

 

 

TVES - Entrevista a Sandra Angeleri - Movimiento Araña Feminista

TVES - Entrevista a Sandra Angeleri - Movimiento Araña Feminista

 

 

Foro Discriminación Racial y Neofacismo en Venezuela.¿ Qué hacer?

Foro realizado en Caracas,esq.Mijares, el 23/05/2013, en el Colegio Universitario Francisco de Miranda, Cátedra Libre África, actividad organizada por el Centro de Saberes Africanos, ponentes Profa.Sandra Angelieri, Dip,Modesto Ruiz, Lic.Beatriz Aiifil,Vice ministro Reinaldo Bolívar. Filmación y Montaje, Pedro Cordido, Dirección Nacional de Cultura de la UNESR., Profa.Judith Salgado, Directora del CUFM., Coordinadora de la Cátedra Libre África del CUFM, Lic.Evelyn Moy, División de Desarrollo Estudiantil,Lic.Yulitza García, Liceo Bolivariano "4-F". Apoyo y difusión en las redes sociales,@precursora, Evelyn Moy, @krakaman, Manuel Reina Leal.

Foro Discriminación Racial y Neofacismo en Venezuela.¿ Qué hacer?

 

Publications
Books (and articles in books)

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Publicaciones

Angeleri, Sandra, and María Mercedes Cobo. "Lo personal es político: violencia doméstica y participación feminista en la Venezuela bolivariana." Revista venezolana de estudios de la mujer 26.57 (2021): 48-65.
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8180518

Angeleri, Sandra. "ANDROCÉNTRICO EN EL SALÓN DE CLASES." Revista venezolana de estudios de la mujer 18.40 (2013): 265-276. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/267077939.pdf

Angeleri, Sandra. "La Araña Feminista estableciendo los parámetros para el estudio de un experiencia de articulación feminista y socialista." Revista venezolana de estudios de la mujer 17.39 (2012): 225-234.
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=5855502

Angeleri, Sandra. "Identidades sociales y apelación al privilegio epistemológico." Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales 17.1 (2011): 51-72. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/177/17731135004.pdf

Angeleri, Sandra. "Génesis de la onto-epistemología liberal." Revista Venezolana de Estudios de la Mujer 13.30 (2008): 037-062. http://ve.scielo.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1316-37012008000100003

Angeleri, Sandra. Women weaving the dream of the revolution in the American continent. University of California, San Diego, 2006. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9bt508j8

Angeleri, Sandra. "Rearticulación del nacionalismo ante la globalización. El movimiento Chicano en la frontera sur de California." Cuestiones Políticas 17.26 (2001). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228645898_Rearticulacion_del_nacionalismo_ante_la_globalizacion_El_movimiento_chicano_en_la_frontera_sur_de_California

Angeleri, Sandra. Local/global Social Movements: Three US Based Transnational Grass-roots Groups. University of California, San Diego, 2001. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/35743428_Localglobal_social_movements_three_US_based_transnational_grass-roots_groups

Angeleri, Sandra. Guerrillas y búsqueda de paz en Colombia. El Centauro Ediciones, 2000.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44536718_Guerrillas_y_busqueda_de_paz_en_Colombia_Sandra_Angeleri |
https://www.amazon.com/Guerrillas-B%C3%BAsqueda-Paz-En-Colombia/dp/B002ECLZYM

Villalón, María Eugenia, and Sandra Angeleri. "The practice of retort: exchanges leading to the Caracas Peace Dialogues." Pragmatics 7.4 (1997): 601-623.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43647717_The_Practice_Of_Retort_Exchanges_Leading_To_The_Caracas_Peace_Dialogues

 

 Videos

Revista Cuerpo y Territorio. Miguel Salazar : 12 de octubre: La historia no contada de América. Youtube, uploaded by Revista Cuerpo y Territorio, Oct 12, 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bddgfi3tARU

TVES. Gui Martinez: Entrevista a Sandra Angeleri - Movimiento Araña Feminista. Youtube, uploaded by TVES, Jun 25, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFQQm7XgdQ4.

Colegio Universitario Francisco de Miranda. Manuel Alejandro Reina L: Foro Discriminación Racial y Neofacismo en Venezuela.¿ Qué hacer?. Youtube, uploaded by Manuel Alejandro Reina L, Jun 2, 2013,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-zFzBo_wio

 

Enlaces externos

Se creará la Gran Escuela Internacional de Liderazgo Femenino "Nora Castañeda," Prensa Presidencial, Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas, Venezuela, 8 de marzo de 2025

 

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