Dissident Women (Chapter 2)

Indigenous communities today are facing many hardships. In many of the indigenous communities there are high rates of malnutrition, poverty deaths, and cultural segregation. Oaxaca and Chiapas is one of the most marginalized from the benefits of development and has the largest indigenous population in Mexico. Life expectancy in indigenous communities is forty years compared to the national average is seventy years. Women are the most seriously affected by this living condition. They are very vulnerable and the main cause of deaths is related to reproductive health.
The Zapatista armed movement is a community movement. The majority of women who join the armed movement are young girls. By taking part in the Zapatista movement it requires that communities assign new activities to women which require that they remain single for a longer period of time.
Some women who have participated in the movement have pointed out the jealousy of their husbands. Their absence is interpreted as deceit and infidelity by their husbands. Alcohol is usually a factor in these situations as well as violence.
What is happening in these indigenous communities is causing many challenges to the Mexican nation.