8 Stories of Women’s Struggles and Achievements in Latin America
On International Women’s Day, we recognize the thousands of women striving for justice and equity every day. These stories reflect their journeys and successes.
Many countries commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8. Since 1975, the date has served as a reminder of women’s struggles for equity, justice, peace and development.
In Latin America, it is much more than a commemoration. 8M, as the date is known throughout the region, is a day of action and protest. Each year, thousands of women take to the streets to demand their right to a life free of violence. They decry the discrimination and conditions of systemic inequality that persist in their communities. They raise their voices collectively, and they raise awareness of the gender-related problems they face every day.
Living in an environment pervaded by inequality means women and girls face unique challenges that vary depending on their countries’ politics, their social groups and their own gender expression, among other factors. This pushes them to seek new ways to connect, find solutions and resist.
As journalists, we are privileged to be able to gain access to the heart of these efforts and document the changes they are setting in motion. To that end, on International Women’s Day, our reporters look back on stories published during the past year to recognize the issues that affect women in our communities, honor the activists defending women’s rights, and celebrate the world they want to create for themselves and future generations.
Andrea Deydén, Lead Editor, Americas
Single Mothers, Trans People Left Out as Housing Supply Dwindles
"Sadly, throughout my coverage, the notion has often been confirmed that the problems troubling society are more difficult to resolve when those facing them head on are women and other minorities. This story shows us just that. When rental properties grow scarce, it is women with young children and other minorities who are the first to be expelled from the system — the theory of intersectionality in all its splendor.
I would like to see public policies implemented and more empathy in response to how real estate speculation is affecting people who need to rent a home. But, in the past months, the situation for women and other minority renters has unfortunately only gotten worse."
The Battle Against Abuse During Childbirth in Argentina
"Obstetric and gynecological violence is present in many childbirths in Argentina, but its status hovers somewhere between either taboo or accepted as normal. Given these circumstances, it was important to me to provide space and visibility to the women who are fighting to change this reality and make respectful childbirths the norm, not a barely imagined ideal that can only be attained by those who can afford to pay for it.
I would like this story to help more women be able to identify obstetric violence and ensure they have more tools to defend their rights. This issue has gained a bit more visibility in recent months because of advocacy by the collective Mi parto, mi decisión. However, I believe the current political context surrounding women’s sexual rights will make the road ahead more challenging for advocates of respectful childbirth."
15 Years After Latin America’s First Femicide Law, the Killings Continue
"Over the past 15 years, laws have been enacted throughout the region to protect women’s lives. But femicide rates have not fallen. In many countries, they have grown. Governments, attorneys general and fellow citizens are failing hundreds of women who, day after day, from one country to another and one neighborhood to another, are crying out for help.
Our commitment as journalists is to work to understand what we are doing wrong, and that is what we set out to do in this special. We analyzed statistics and legislation to gauge the effectiveness of the measures countries in the region have taken, and spoke with experts — whether through experience or study — about possible solutions. We understand that the greatest impact we can have is through analyses that contribute to better comprehension of the situation and the action we still have to take."
For Indigenous Women in Southern Mexico, the Route to Justice Is Long and Expensive
"Many women in Guerrero who have suffered violence have either not been able to file an official report or have had to stop pursuing the process due to high costs and discrimination. Telling the stories of those who have managed to obtain justice is a way to inspire more women to raise their voices.
I hope this story helps authorities at all levels gain awareness of the difficulties complainants must go through and to improve their procedures for handling these cases."
Vicarious Violence: The Insidious Crime That Affects Thousands of Families in Mexico
"Right now, there are thousands of children in Mexico who are unable to see their mothers. In many cases, they have been made to believe that their mother is the one who does not want to be with them. Vicarious violence has existed for a long time and has affected many generations, but it did not always have a name — and anything left shrouded in invisibility will go without being understood, let alone resolved.
Through this story, I hope that more people, especially legislators and those responsible for upholding justice, learn about what families experience when they are separated. I hope they gain more consciousness about the violence the fathers who do this unleash on their children when they use them to gain power over their ex-partners."
These Mexico City Models Have Had Enough Art World Abuse
"This story examines the work of a group of art models in Mexico City who are fighting for people to recognize and learn more about their work. They want dignity for all the women who for centuries have been present in museums, galleries and town squares and who have been immortalized in sculptures, paintings and photographs, but also hidden in anonymity.
The work of Movimiento de Modelos de Arte has had an impact on models seeking to work under decent conditions and on the artists who recognize their work. They have visited schools, galleries and media outlets to share the message that they are people who make a living from modeling, not muses."
Pole-Dancers in Puerto Rico Take on Sexism, Seek Independence
"It’s a wonderful revolution: Pole dancers in Puerto Rico have appropriated their events and workplaces in order to feel freer and earn a fair wage. The dancers ensure diversity at their events, so they are more accessible to other women, and they provide safe performance spaces for people who identify as nonbinary and trans.
Learning about this phenomenon forces us to demystify the dynamics of strip clubs and better understand the desires, ambitions and art of pole dancers. My own ambition when it comes to this story is that readers recognize the strength of these women and attend erotic shows more conscientiously. This story is just the beginning of a conversation in which there is still much more to be said. I would like to inspire more people to document what is happening and report on it."
Changing the Game: Puerto Rican Mothers Push for Paralympic Sports
"While exploring the world of sports for athletes who have disabilities, this story extols a group of mothers who are working for the inclusion of their children and safeguarding their well-being. I am proud of the impact it is having in Puerto Rico, where the media and sports groups have echoed the work of these women.
I hope it will inspire other women who are going through similar situations, and I am pleased that it is helping people who have some type of disability, as well as their families, to continue forging a path for themselves."
