Participating as a young woman in Mexican Politics. Part 1
I remember it very clearly. I was 14 and despite my parent’s warnings on not being part of it, there I was. The state where I grew up, had been struggling with growing its presence and confidence of a different political party from the one that had been governing in the state since we became an independent country.
With small elections in a few municipalities, my small town was no exception in showing its tiredness of seeing the same people and color taking control and action of the public administration.
I was eager and curious about being part of the so-called change that was being sold on radio and banners throughout the town. When I got caught handing out flyers and promoting the new candidate, it became an issue at home that I could not understand. Friends found my participation odd and something someone my age was not supposed to be doing.
My parents with a certain conservative mindset, warned me constantly that a young woman with values should not be part of such daring activist activity. Like if it was some kind of sin.
I couldn’t understand, why my dad being a political activist himself during his younger years, was so upset with me being part of something I was believing in. Later I found, that women in politics, was still an arena hard to step in and a struggle to walk through while a bend over backwards to keep yourself safe from scandals and cobwebs. There was a lot of stigma around young women participating in politics in the early 90's, most of the participation was only during campaigns, where you were needed to promote and gather other women for their vote, that’s it.
I grew up in a state where chauvinism prevailed, matriarchy was the core, and women’s empowerment was very misused. Mindset around women’s culture was that of growing up and marrying to have children and take care of their husbands. I always felt that there had to be more for those who just wanted a different option from the one offered.
As I grew older and became part of winnings elections, I became known in the political world of young activists within the political party. At the same time, we started winning political positions in the senate and public administration.
The struggle was real, the leader of the juvenile front had always been a young male. The few young women that associated, were there as fill-ins and with envy and in an effort of being noticed tried always to displace other women that they were not sympathetic to. I was not part of that popular crowd but instead tried to grow sympathy with the adults.
To stand out, you had to be bold and daring. Not everyone was lucky. You had to be smart to see who you were going to hang out with and what crowd you were going to belong too. Ignoring the comments and gossips from your peers which were already insulting and chauvinistic. Every time a milestone was achieved it was never about your effort and skills, it was about questioning your reputation and what you had to do to be given that attention. I was only 19 years old at the most.
