The Mexican Revolution

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A gun strapped on her back, with bandoliers across her chest. She is dressed in a blouse and flowing skirt, paired with a fearless expression. She embodies the spirit of the significant volume of Soldaderas, or female soldiers, who risked their lives and fought and worked in the Mexican Revolution between 1911 and 1920. This image is often used to depict women who looked beyond the four walls of their home and attempted to stand equal to men. Women prior to the Mexican Revolution lived in the stereotypical role of the homemaker and obedient wife; however, during the Mexican Revolution, the role of the woman transformed as they served in many different roles in the political, social, and economic spheres. Adelitas and Soldaderas often came from poor farming communities, and had caught up with the excitement of the revolution. The war widened gender roles and women actively participated as nurses, propagandists, and even soldiers. Although given microscopic recognition compared to their male counterparts, women successfully transformed not only the Mexican Revolution, but also their standings in the political and social spectrum of Mexico.
Women prior to the Mexican Revolution lived in the orthodox part of the wife; however, during the Mexican Revolution, the role of the woman completely renovated. Adelitas and Soldaderas derived from poor farming societies. Such women were excited to take the revolution as an opportunity to grow outside the home and prove their full potential to the world. The excitement of the revolution enthralled these common homemakers. However, women were not engrossed completely in part due to the excitement of the uprising. The male soldiers in the federal army under President Victoriano Huerta were forced...

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...field against the opposition forces, but essentially battled against the past stereotypes that demeaned their limitations as humans. Both as a camp aide like the Adelitas or a combatant like the Soldaderas, women liberated themselves from the restraints in their lives and successfully achieved equality with men. The women who took on the political edge to the revolution committed themselves to attain the equality they deserved. When the objectives of the feminist groups were met in the Mexican Revolution, ultimate success was achieved for all. Unfortunately, the participation of women in the Mexican Revolution is often overlooked, unlike that of Pancho Villa or Emiliano Zapata. However, women truly were successful in the revolution and it is unfortunate to see that the numerous gains in achieving complete rights for females during the Revolution are disregarded.

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