Giselle Marie Rose 
University of New Hampshire
Major: Spanish/International Affairs
Mentor: Barbara Larson - Professor of Anthropology
The Cultural and Political Values in the Molas of San Blas
This project explores the cultural and political functions of the Mola in the lives of the Cuna women. The Mola is a garment that is worn as a blouse by the Cuna women of San Blas; a region located on the northeastern coast of Panamá. Traditionally, the garments' appliqués were sewn exclusively for personal wear. However, in later centuries the Molas have made a shift from functional clothing to fulfilling a dual role objet' d art, that has created a budding textile industry within the matrilineal society of the Cuna.
My study examines the evolutionary role of the Cuna women through the fabrication of their Molas. This study was conducted through in depth literary review, and actual viewing of over 300 Molas as primary sources. These collections are found at both the Peabody Museum at Harvard University and the William Benton Museum of Art at the University of Connecticut. My analysis of the Molas was based on critical analysis of their motifs and how they have changed over time to determine the categories of Molas that are most prevalent in the culture of the Cuna. In the context of textile production, my observations reveal that the production of Molas has placed women in a position of economic authority on the San Blas islands and while the Mola continues to be made for personal use, it represents a symbol of ethnic and political identity locally, regionally and internationally.
