Dissident Women (Intro)

In this introduction this reading talks about the rights of the Indigenous women. It also talks about the disadvantages of indigenous women. The indigenous women know they must attend all meetings to change things. The women must share their thoughts and be involved. The struggle for freedom continues but women are continuing to take on leadership roles in their communities and organization. They must stay just as committed to their jobs as men are because women do not get paid the same wages and men. What they are paid is not even enough to support them and their children. It is important that women hold leadership posts, so they can demonstrate that they are valuable. Participation in the decisions of the community is important for the women to take part in as well as taking part in the elections. In the Women’s Revolutionary Law; Article four is talked about in depth. The indigenous women of Mexico feel the law has not made good on its promise to respect custom. They also feel the laws should consider the needs of rural communities. The Zapatista women are fighting back too; they are expanding the arena that constitutes politics and are also explaining new forms of citizenship rights and responsibilities. The Zapatista movement has often been termed the first “post modern” social movement because of the use of the Internet as an organizational tool. However, the Zapatista women have complicated the labeling of the movement because of their insistence on examining women’s rights. The Zapatistas have focused their demands on achieving recognition of the political and cultural rights of indigenous peoples.