Mexican culture is deeply rooted in the oppression of women, it is viewed as a social norm to belittle women and treat them as property. As a Mexican American woman, myself, I remember being reminded as a child to be cautious of what I wore or how I acted around older men in order to satisfy their standards of how a lady should act. As a child, I rebelled against this mindset, it seemed odd that rather than fix the problem at the origin, which was the authoritative mindset of the typical Mexican man, that society was pressuring women and young girls to conform and behave in ways to cater to men. Machismo is rewarded in the Hispanic culture; it has been a large part in how men and women interact with each other and what roles they play in society. The sense of being manly and self-reliant instills a sense of pride in Mexican men that has gradually increased and resulted in extreme behaviors. Mexico has always been passive on allowing the oppression of women to continue and the immersive culture goes as far as to validate and encourage it. Over the years women have taken a stance against this toxic masculinity, a prominent protest being the Glitter Revolution happening in Mexico today.
In early August of 2019, news of the alleged rape of a young girl by police officers in the city of Azcapotzalco arose and made its way around the entire city. With an average of ten women being murdered every single day, cases of rape, harassment, sexual assault, and the general attack on women, it comes as no surprise that for many feminist activists, it was the last straw. Mexican women are being criticized and frowned upon for protesting years of oppression and violence. Men can act in such absurd ways and sexually assault young girls, while both society and those with authority allow it to go unpunished. The recent "Glitter Movement" has been criticized for the way in which women in Mexico have decided to carry out their protests; however, critics have failed to acknowledge the severity of the problem. Actions that include defacing of property, nudity, and setting fires, are not extreme when you are fighting against decades of attacks on women and ultimately, against an unsustainable environment for women created by men, to serve the best interests of men.
While I believe that when approaching an issue and protesting it should first be assessed calmly and with a peaceful plan in mind, it is also important to step up and take much larger steps for reform when you have been ignored and belittled repeatedly. Feminist activists in Mexico have been advocating for change for several years, it wasn't overnight that this rage and intolerance developed. Violence is never the answer; however, critics need to look at the bigger picture. Those participating in the movement are not crazy irrational individuals, their goal is to ultimately receive a political response that reflects the severity of their situation. To devalue their movement and judge them by solely what the media has portrayed to be irrational, implies that you approve of women and young girls going missing, experiencing rape, sexual harassment, and sexual assault at the hands of men in a culture that encourages toxic masculinity.
