SOWING STRUGGLES
SEMBRANDO LUCHAS
At the heart of a nation, rich in contrasts, Mexican women embody the social struggle that grips a country torn apart by a silent war. This territory is torn apart by staggering figures: 11 femicides per day, over 100,000 missing persons, including 24,600 women since 2006, impunity, injustice, violence...
Mexican women thus navigate a hostile environment that has taught them resilience. Their fight is in motion, fueled like the #MeToo movement in Europe, by anger and a thirst for justice.
Therefore, it is the women, the mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, friends, and neighbors, who, numerous and united by a common cause, fight for their rights, for a dignified life free from violence. You can find them in the streets, singing feminist songs, braving tear gas, carrying the pink crosses of femicides on their shoulders, adorned with the portraits of those still missing, or getting their hands dirty cultivating the future.
Starting in 2018, this long-term photographic project converges the lives of women of all ages, whose profiles intersect and complement each other, who have risen beyond the status of victims to become true defenders of rights.
// This project was supported by the Women Photograph Project Grant 2022 and the Prix Françoise Demulder 2023, Visa pour l'image. //
Fighting against gender violence
Mexico counts more than 10 femicides a day and almost systematic impunity in terms of gender violence, which has led teenage girls and young women to rebel against a misogynistic and murderous system. This series attempts to capture these moments of struggle that inspire many other girls. It's vital to make visible the struggles and successes of Mexican women who take action without ever giving up, striving to counter a system in which the sole question of gender exposes you to violence.
Searching for loved ones missing
In a country where thousands of people seem to have "evaporated" from the face of the earth, the search for the missing had to be done by the civilians themselves. Mothers, wives, daughters or sisters of those who did not return home had no choice but to pick up shovels and picks and start digging.
Supporting access to abortion
Against the backdrop of changing legislation on the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico, a new generation of young women is emerging to take on the mission of accompanying their fellow women through the abortion process. They are building up a network of mutual support and ensuring follow-up at every stage of the abortion process. Women with different profiles are united by a single cause: be able to choose over one's body.
Defending the environment
Mexico is currently experiencing a major environmental crisis, with the destruction of biodiversity, pollution and climate change. Women environmentalists are once again at the forefront of the fight to protect their communities and their natural environment. Examine the role of women in environmental protection, while linking the degradation of the natural world to the oppression of women.
Preserve ancestral cultures
Many indigenous and Afro-descendant women in Mexico work collectively to protect their cultural identity. They pass on ancestral knowledge and resources while ensuring the well-being of their communities. Their non-Western vision and traditions spearhead many of the country's social struggles.
