Dissident Women (Chapter 8)

Women who participate within the EZLN are very active at all levels. The women organize communities and regions; they also take part in the women’s militia who form irregular troops who are called to action. The women also are a part of the support bases who take part in all of the EZLN initiatives. In 1995 the people of San Francisco were forced to flee from their home to protect themselves against the Mexican Army. After three months they finally returned home to find devastation. Their homes, belongings, and animals were all destroyed. Everyday life for them involves violence and the way they go about everyday life has changed. The women’s tasks have been made more difficult because of the army, they have to walk much further everyday to fetch water and fire wood. The Mexican army settled in San Francisco because it had pronounced itself a community in resistance after the EZLN. Since the EZLN uprising in the community changes have been made and they have been made for the good. Maria Angelica talks about some of the changes she has noticed. The Women’s Revolutionary Law issued by the EZLN is a symbol of women’s dignity for the Zapatista women. Women were given the right to choose their spouses and were not forced or sold into marriage. Women also had the right to take part in community politics and hold leadership posts. Physical violence against women is also prohibited and it has decreased in the community. It has become more normal to find young women of twenty-one who are still single considering ten years ago women were married at the age of fourteen. The use of birth control pills have been used more by married women in the community. With the Zapatista uprising men are helping women with tasks that were previously considered exclusively women’s domain. Women are continuing to fight for their rights and a change but they still face obstacles and resistance inside the EZLN.