Female voices: What led them to participate in 8M

These are some of the speeches of young women who attended the march, these testimonies reflect the different perspectives, however, all the testimonies agree on ending the violence that affects women in the country every day.

These interviews aim to make visible the reasons why many women demonstrated on March 8. It seeks to leave a testimony of the political, religious, economic and social factors that revolve around women and that are part of the construction of the Patriarchal system in Mexico. The definition of the word “women” and “what should or should not be” has been too much questioned at present, since this concept has been rethought in the perception of women and men.

1. What does it mean to you to be a woman?

“To be a strong person, who fights for his dreams, goals and who every day struggles to be free, full and feel free” Melisa Arreola

“I used to think it had to do with this genital issue, that is, being born with a vulva with a vagina. Over time I began to interpret it more with a feeling, but unfortunately also with an oppression, because as you grow older the differences between men and women begin to emerge. It's unfortunate that being a woman conditions you” Penelope

“Well, I don't think this question falls within the simple questions. Much less when we integrate into the conversation trans women who feel an affinity for the characteristics that society has imposed on us as feminine, or trans who feel belonging, but without those characteristics or cis women who may not adopt those “feminine” characteristics, but continue to identify as women. I think that perhaps it is a sense of belonging to certain characteristics that we share and that we relate to the concept of woman or not to feel that we belong to the characteristics that are associated with the concept of being a man” Analí

2. Why did you go to the march? What motivated you?

“I went to the march to agree with the Violet Gang, because it was the first time they created a contingent. I am very motivated to say that we are not all, we lack all the missing ones, like Irma Galindo, we lack those killed by the Narco-State, like Marisela Escobedo. I am not satisfied with the system we live in, which is macho and patriarch, but which is also capitalist, and although I manifest it every day, yesterday I wanted to do it together with everyone, because marching, singing, dancing and shouting gives a political message to those who oppress us and also to us, and to all those who use other forms protest, because resisting together makes us stronger” Sacni Acosta

“The 8M is the only day that I dare to go to the streets with people I hardly know, dressed totally comfortable according to my tastes and the weather and who don't scare me, even if I have to walk around all the places my parents forbade me to go since I was little because I was afraid of danger. Being surrounded by women with such energy and a common struggle completely changes you” Mariana M.

3. What is your concept of “feminism”? Do you consider yourself a feminist?

“I am a feminist and for me feminism is fighting for equality between men and women, making ourselves heard and making our annoyances and disagreements known. Fight for every sister, woman, friend, girl, who is no longer there or who has not received justice” Melisa Arreola

“Today, feminism is as diverse as women are, so we talk about feminisms, in the plural. But at first it was a single ideology, a way of seeing the world, which sought to favor women, free them from patriarchal oppression, but not all: only white and European women. Even this form of feminism prevails, and that is why I don't consider myself entirely feminist. In essence, I am a woman who fights, in her own way.” Sanci Acosta

“It's the fight for gender equality, and I've just had this conversation with other people and the question that always comes up is 'and why can't men be feminists? ' the situation here is not to exclude them directly because they are men and that we like them well or badly, many of us have close relations with some, but women were repressed and invisible for many years by a system, it is time to raise our voice, take to the streets and show the world that women can, that we are doing and we are going to achieve it” Mariana M.

“Yes, I consider myself a Feminist and I understand feminism as a tool of struggle that seeks to make visible the whole situation we are experiencing as women in the patriarchal and macho context. The women of the periphery, we organize projects in our municipalities, in our homes and territories that are very violent such as the State of Mexico” Amparo

4. Have you experienced violence or harassment in public places or in your home? what kind?

“I couldn't count how many times I've been bullied, because there are quite a few. But I have suffered it as cybernetic, sexual, psychological, verbal and even physical harassment” Kary Cesar

“I don't belong to a privileged class, so violence and harassment is something I've always suffered. Firstly, because I grew up in a religious and macho cradle. Day by day they asked me to serve men and, although at that age I had no notions about feminism, something in me said that was wrong and I refused to accept such deals. They taught me what I should do as a “young lady” and the value I was getting according to the acts I performed. The first memory of being sexually harassed was when I was 12 years old. I had to ride the shuttle to school alone. I had my backpack on my legs a man who sat on the side began to touch my leg under my skirt. What I did was take my backpack and crush his hand with my books, but I didn't do anything else. And from there I could not list the times when men have approached me to harass me while alone, have taken pictures of me or followed me” Analí.

“I suffered dating violence from my former romantic partner for three years, several times my body was full of bruises and marks. I have also suffered a lot of harassment on public transport, once when I went to high school a man started taking pictures of me. My mother told me several times that since I was pretty I had to cover myself more, because it attracted more men's attention and they could disrespect me.” Violet A.

(With data from the National Survey on Dating Violence (ENVIN))

“Of course, I have suffered gender-based violence and I know a woman in my family, work or friends who hasn't been through such a situation. For many years I lived in a bubble of privilege where I thought that nothing was wrong with me, but it was rather that I didn't know that micromachismos existed and I had very normalized that they forbid me things “because I'm a girl”. As I grew older, gender violence took on other forms and names” Mariana M.

“I have experienced harassment and violence, especially on long trips such as 4 hours, which are from home to school, or to work makes us more exposed to sexual violence, for example, on public transport. When I was younger, I suffered a lot of sexual harassment on the streets, mainly on public transport” Amparo.

5. What did you demand during the march? under what slogan?

“I demand that justice be served for every girl who has been killed, raped, abused, beaten and that her cases remain unresolved and that abusers remain unconvicted. I demand to be free, to be able to go to the streets feeling safe, at whatever time it is regardless of my dress and without fear or uncertainty if I will get home” Melisa Arreola.

“What I demanded most during the march is that femicides end under the slogan of 'not one more', I think that is what was most done in general because femicide is the highest expression of machismo in our country. ” Sanci Acosta

“I demanded to be able to walk without fear, either at night or in the morning, with a skirt or pants. I could go and have fun with my friends without being harassed in the bar, club, museum and park. May my nieces and sisters not grow up with the ideals they imposed on me since childhood. I demand to decide on my body because it is mine, and no one else's. I demand not to be another figure, under the slogans “NO! I told you not to p3ndejo no. My body is mine. I decide. I have autonomy. I am mine. Why not!” “Neither a hooker to catch, nor a mother for duty! Neither prisoner for abortion, nor dead for trying!” Mary Caesar.

6. In general, what is your opinion regarding the march on March 8?

“Regarding the march it is something that I will support whether or not. This convergence of feelings that hurt, but also comfort and support is necessary. For me all forms are forms everyone does it from their trenches, possibilities and life experiences. I wish you didn't have to leave, but the reality is different and the marches help to make visible what they want to hide and shut up” Penelope

“This was the first 8M march I attended. In which I never saw violence or aggression or the police, or other protesters or pedestrians approaching peacefully. There was only the black bloc performing the iconoclasm, which is already known and which causes the most debate in society, and at some point I saw members of the black bloc driving away a group of men who were trying to annoy the protesters. ” Anali

7. What is your opinion regarding the situation of gender-based violence in the country?

“I want to think they try, but I think they still leave all the talk to women who were victims of femicide, sexual violence or any kind of violence, I think the state doesn't understand that it's not just a matter of establishing laws, work is more complicated” Anonymous

“Gender violence is something structural and that depresses me a little, because it is difficult to fight something that has been established for a long time and that is reflected in all institutions and it hurts a lot, it makes you powerless and you want to break everything. ” Penelope

8. At the end of the day, when the march ended, how did you feel?

“At the end of the day I felt happy and liberated, but at the same time I really wanted to do more actions, every day, not just this one. I also feel a lot of anger because we are missing many, because they continue to violate us. I have a lot of faith and hope in organized women, and that one day we will celebrate this day and not feel the dignified anger for our murdered and disappeared companions” Sacni Acosta

“At the end of the day I felt a lot of things. I felt angry about what we have to do to make them listen to us a little, that we have to get together to demand justice when that should be normal, not have 10 femicides a day. I was frustrated by all those who mock without even being informed, by those who continue to defend monuments, for those who are “allies” that day so that people see that they “are” and the rest of the year they continue to practice misogyny with their friends and cover up with each other. I felt sad to see those who only understood until it happened to a woman close to them. To the mothers, sisters and friends who lost someone. I felt insecure when I had to leave the group and return alone, remove the banner because you never know if you're going to find a violent man who doesn't like feminists. But even with all that, a part was also proud to have finally been part of those women who wake up that day and every day to be part of the change.” Anali

“Finally I don't think I can describe in one sentence how 8M felt. I cried with anger when I saw mothers demand justice, I was empowered when with my friends and strangers we screamed and jumped, but, above all, I reaffirmed my confidence in other women and in myself, I realized the strength we can have if we break with the scheme of competing and we each accept ourselves” Mariana M.

Keep Reading