The femicide crisis in Mexico
(Courtesy of Mariajose de Jesús Castillo Cervantes)
“I don’t want to live in a Mexico where my parents don’t let me ride my bike to school or go out after sunset because they’re afraid for my safety,” writes 19-year-old student Mariajose de Jesús Castillo Cervantes.
We’ve made important progress towards gender equality around the world. But unfortunately, my country, Mexico, seems as if it’s going backwards. One of the most alarming examples is the femicide rate. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 2017 to 2020, the number of daily femicides in Mexico increased from seven to 10.5 — and that number is only getting higher during the pandemic.
The normalization of violence against women is a major contributor to this problem. Mexican society often teaches men that they should show masculinity through violence, toughness and power. This machismo culture of male entitlement leads to violence against and harassment of women. In restaurants, the gym, the convenience store near my house and many other places, I have witnessed its effects firsthand. I have been in situations where I felt my safety was in danger because of my gender, times when men approached me and started asking me intimate questions and occasions when my sisters have been grabbed by men on the street. Whenever this happens, I feel vulnerable and small. I also feel consumed with rage. It’s so frustrating to not be able to do anything because you’re too scared of what could happen to you if you speak up.
“Mexican society often teaches men that they should show masculinity through violence, toughness and power. This machismo culture of male entitlement leads to violence against and harassment of women.”
Another contributor to the femicide rate is organized crime. A recent study showed that 63% of femicides during March–April 2020 in Mexico have links to organized crime, but the government often does not acknowledge this type of violence. In general, it fails to take gender-based violence seriously. Less than 5% of femicide cases in Mexico lead to convictions. During COVID-19, the president cut the budgets of women’s shelters and federal agencies that protect their rights. In May 2020, he claimed that 90% of emergency calls are fake, continuing to downplay and undermine this crisis against women.
This November, two femicides took place in my home city Cancún, México within 24 hours of each other. The police have not released any details about one of the women who was found. The other was 20-year-old Bianca Alejandrina Lorenzana Alvarado, best known as Alexis. She went out of her house that day, and never came back. A day later, her body was found.
Women in Mexico protest for gender equality and an end to femicide on March 8, 2020. They are carrying a sign that reads: “We want us alive.” (Courtesy of Mariajose de Jesús Castillo Cervantes)
Alexis had been a vocal advocate in the movement against gender-based violence, using her voice and social media platform to speak out for missing and murdered women. To demand justice for her and the other femicide victim, on 9 November, people from all genders in Cancún decided to protest in their names. Many friends of mine attended this protest; they either wore black or green and purple attires as purple is the international color of the movement for equal rights and green represents the sexual and reproductive rights for women. When they got to the government palace, the police arrived with bulletproof vests and guns and started shooting into the air, shouting threats and sexist comments.
9 November is my birthday and so I spent the day with my family at home, but all I could think about was Alexis and the other victim and how angry I was at the government and police for attacking the protesters. In my history classes, we learn about how the police have repressed the rights of citizens in the past, like when the students disappeared from Ayotzinapa or when the massacre of Tlatelolco occurred. Our teachers tell us that the purpose of these lessons are to understand the mistakes of the past so we can do better in the future, but this violence at the hands of the police only continues to occur.
A girl holds a sign that reads: “I march because I am alive, and I don’t know for how long.” (Courtesy of Mariajose de Jesús Castillo Cervantes)
Despite the dangers of speaking out, I will continue to fight for women’s rights in my country and raise awareness about what’s happening here. I want my government to take action to prevent femicides. I want them to prosecute these crimes and to commit to giving the victims justice. I also want accurate data on violence against women because that will help us know the truth about what happens in our country and how we can address it. I want leaders to acknowledge this crisis and speak out about it to educate the rest of the country. Each one of us has to stop normalizing machismo culture, learn why it is wrong and educate others. Even the small ways machismo culture manifests — like in jokes or the way people express themselves — is harmful.
I don’t want to live in a Mexico where my parents don’t let me ride my bike to school or go out after sunset because they’re afraid for my safety. I don’t want to live in a Mexico where I have to buy keychains that have alarms or pepper spray to protect myself from people who might want to take advantage of me. I don’t want to live in a Mexico where I’m scared of harassment at the gym or at the convenience store around the corner from my house.
I want to live in a Mexico where I’m actually free and safe.
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