Misogyny In Hispanic Culture Is A Threat To Women’s Lives

While most of the world has changed, misogyny remains a major issue in Latin American countries. 

Hispanic culture is cemented on old family customs that limit a woman’s role solely as the caretaker of society. That is why most Hispanic households, especially low-income ones, prefer to have boys rather than girls as children. 

In countries like the United States, women are empowered to build a life independent of their ability to create a family. Inversely, girls in Latin countries are pressured to marry while they are young, with as many as one in four  girls marrying before they are 18.

Men get to create their destinies, while women simply have to follow them.

Feminism has become a global movement even if many people don’t understand what it is. While some generalize the concept as “hate for men,” the entire idea of feminism is to empower women and gender equality. 

In Latin America, this is seen as a stigma even by some women. 

If a woman is labeled as a feminist in Latin America, she might be seen as a lesbian, prostitute or someone who wants to be alone forever. 

Ostracizing feminists in this manner makes it increasingly difficult for women who want the right to speak up for themselves. 

The result of this type of oppression toward women is reflected in the high rate of femicide—the murder of a woman based on her gender—in Latin American countries. 

Hatred toward women is so engraved in Hispanic culture that killing women based on their gender has become a daily occurrence. This is appalling and frustrating, because the men killing women just for existing were raised and birthed by one. 

Just last month, media outlets in the Dominican Republic were circulating news of the death of Esmeralda Richiez—a 16-year-old girl who was raped and killed during a trip to the beach with her school. 

Her male teacher is a suspect in the incident.

Abortion is another issue. 

Countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic have completely banned and criminalized abortion. 

This has led many women to die during homemade or clandestine abortions. A rampant issue that many don’t bother to discuss in Hispanic countries. 

Latin America is beautiful. However, it’s still a very dangerous place for women.

Instead of dismissing feminism as a fringe ideology, Hispanics should embrace it and make the changes needed to bring a safe and equal society for both genders.