Entanglements of Energy Justice and Dignity in Latin America. Weaving a Gender Perspective into the Right to Energy

This chapter explores the intersection of the right to energy, energy deprivation, and the impacts on women engaged in unpaid domestic work in southern Chile. It addresses how energy deprivation disproportionately affects these women, emphasizing their mental and emotional burdens. This issue is particularly critical in the southern region of Chile, where cold climates create a high demand for heating, exacerbated by poor thermal quality in housing. Through ethnographic research, the study investigates the experiences of women managing households in these challenging conditions with inadequate heating and electricity access. Key findings reveal a significant connection between energy limitations and the mental burden on women, who often struggle to balance self-care with caregiving demands. This research adds new insights to the conceptual framework of dignity in the context of energy poverty, considering self-care, self-determination, and respect. The study highlights the necessity of incorporating specific gender needs into energy rights discussions, advocating for collective solutions to address these limitations and promote energy justice. By focusing on the unique challenges women face in maintaining household warmth, the chapter underscores the critical need for a comprehensive approach that supports the well-being of all affected individuals.