Brainstorm #5 - Sarah Yang

Senorita Extravida and Mexicana Encounters both detail the horrific situation of the more than 350 young women of Juarez, Mexico and shed light on the mistreatment of women there. When society has “[shifted] the blame toward the victims’ moral character [that] in effect naturalizes violence against women”, it becomes easy and acceptable to let awful acts fade away (5). However, even in the absolute worst of environments, Lourdes Portillo and Rosalinda Fregoso are able to highlight the power that the resilient women had and have to fight against the acts done against them. When the police and powers in authorities refuse to justly go after the attackers, women take charge - one strong woman stated “if there are no leads...I’ll bring them to you” to the police (42:23). Families and women had to protect and help themselves. They believed that “by remaining silent, we were compliant” (1:11:30). Banding together, working to bring justice themselves, and supporting each other aids the community in staying strong. By protecting their own families and watching out for each other, women continue to survive in a place that does not respect them. As Fregoso penned, “women are the protagonists of this grassroots movement” (21). This is evident in the public art that women put up of Voces sin Eco, which “forged a new public identity for women, claiming public space for them as citizens of the nation” (21). Public art is a firm statement of mourning for the lost girls, defiance against the system and abuse, and resilience in the face of the situation and the people who participate or bystand in the situation.