Essay Sample Analyzing the Role of Mexican Women in 20th Century

Customarily in Mexican culture, Mexican women were under the specialist of Mexican men. Men got their macho maleness from both the employment they worked and their domain over their wives. Mexican culture young ladies were considered sexually unpredictable, equipped for transgression against their general public and their religion immediately (Montejano, 42). Along these lines, men's control of their women's sexuality was at the core of their obligations as Mexican men, and their notorieties were attached to it. This is critical Mexican men were reluctant to enable Mexicana's to change their role as the male character was needy principally on control and maintaining of customary female personality (Montejano, 48-59).

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From the time of Mexican revolution to the 20th century many things have changed yet much of it looks similar. During the time of Mexican revolution, a Mexican woman could have developed lung conditions quickly for working over a wood fire in and endorsed space but today could have her daughter working on a white-collar job. What this means is that roles women played some 100 years ago compared to the recent times in the 20th century defined different roles and responsibilities for women as part of the Mexican family.

The life and roles of a Mexican woman as changed in regards to their work, their family life, their social standing, their health care, their educational opportunities and political participation have changed over a period. The Mexican women have remained still with the role to do as housework and taking care of children and the sick which is exclusively their responsibility (Ruiz, 22). Though this is the case, their responsibilities have been enhanced much better with the existence of gas for cooking, running water, homes with flooring and indoor toilets. This has simplified what was known to be a hard task for Mexican women.

In 1910 women only represented 14% of the workforce but by the years 2008 their representation had grown to 38% were most of the growth took place for the last 40 years. This means the literacy goal has increase and from the age of 15 years only 4% of the Mexican women are illiterate indicating that almost 94% of young Mexican women are attending school ((Ruiz, 45). This has changed their roles because now women no longer feel primary as house helps but they are being empowered through education to be successful women in the society that with the help of the man as the head of the family, they can raise the family together. This has created a sense of belonging to themselves because they do not depend on all from the man as they did in previous years.

Mexican women also participate in public life, and it had become incomparably greater that when it came to the 20th century. Women were never allowed to vote until 1953 with today Mexican women having more women candidates for president since Ibarra Rosario who became the first women to run for the presidency in 1982. With all these women continued to be almost completely accountable for housework. Not all have abandoned the precious life with 18% of the Mexican women still cooking with firewood and 13% struggling to keep their children healthy safe. To help their families, Mexican women have moved to the informal sector to look for jobs to sustain and support their families.

When looking at the history of Mexico, it is hard to ignore the fact that Mexican women played an important role in shaping the country (Lopez-Portill, 6). Even though there have been attempts to marginalize women and hide their involvement, Mexican women through years until today they are fighting for their county in different ways, areas making them gain an important role in the political arena. Lopez-Portillo (8) submits that this has been able to earn them the reputation of achieving a growing social and historical recognition and also gain political power.

Much has been done in regards to gender equality in Mexico. The country that has been strongly practicing Macho culture had the difficulty of accepting that men and women have the same potential and so they should be given equal opportunities. Mexican never abandoned their family roles but took the role of fighting for the cultural, social and political battle for them to achieve gender equality. With this, they proved that they are immensely capable and can persevere (Lopez-Portillo, 10). If more women want to have the opportunity for advancement, then social changed needs to be essential. Mexican men need to understand and accept the fact that times have changed and since today many women can be seen heading government offices, the world leader is losing its gender reference (Lopez-Portillo, 10).

What Mexican women have achieved is a terrific accomplishment as individuals from the workforce. All that needs to be done is to shape the context in which the Mexican people live and make good use of its ensuring that they understand their culture and at the same time embrace gender equality. There is need to acknowledge the extent in which the Mexican culture has played a role whereby women have not been able to be recognized and obstacles they faced to exercise their leadership roles. Women's ability to work outside the home in spite of contention with their husbands bespeaks the material and different advantages that business secured for them.

Work cited

Lopez-Portillo Rafael. Understanding the role of women as leaders in Mexican politics: Looking back and moving forward. University of San Diego, 2016. Dissertation.

Montejano, David. Chicano Politics and Society in the Late Twentieth Century. Choice Reviews Online. 36.11 (1999): 36-6546. Print.

Ruiz, Vicki. From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in Twentieth-Century America. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.