Next Monday, we wear purple

What would a day without women look like? Imagine. How many female students would be missing their classes? Think about how many seats would be empty in your classrooms. How many women would not go to work? Guess how much this would affect the economy of the whole country.

What about a day without your mom? Now, imagine a day without your sister, grandmother, aunt, niece, girlfriend or even wife. I bet you would miss them. But what about a lifetime without them? 

Mexico has long struggled with violence against women. Femicide is real.

According to the stopvaw.org, the term femicide “is used to describe the gender-related killing of women and girls, and it has been described as ‘the most violent manifestation of discrimination against women and their inequality.’”

On social media, Mexican feminist collectives urgently called out for a national strike due to the growing violence that affects not only women, but all residents of the country. On average, 10 women are killed every day in Mexico, according to statistics from Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública.

In 2019, 1,006 femicides were registered. This past January, 73 women were murdered. Unfortunately, some cases are never filed and are still missing from record, according to an article from Infobae.com. 

The national strike, “El Nueve, Ninguna se Mueve,” or “A Day Without Women,” is scheduled for next Monday, March 9. The date was chosen because Sunday, is International Women’s Day. 

On this day, no women will be on the streets, in school or at work. The goal is to create awareness on what the consequences of femicide are and to understand the social, cultural and economic impact women have in a patriarchal-ruled country that fails to respect and protect them.

Women who are unable to stop their daily activities for personal reasons may also participate by wearing something purple to show their support. The color purple represents feminism.

Universities across Mexico are showing their support for any woman who would like to step out of their jobs and classes. The state of Tamaulipas’ government has also joined the cause and accepted that any woman who works for the government is allowed to take the day off.

It is important to mention some people are mistaking what will happen on Monday. Some men were even trying to create “a day without men,” undermining the reason for the real protest.

This is not a vacation. It is a protest. Women are less than privileged in Mexico. Everyone needs to experience what life without women would be like. 

During the last year, feminists were only ridiculed and mocked by their contribution to the movement. A feminist anthem was created, “Un violador en tu camino.” This song, also known as “A Rapist in your Path,” or “The Rapist Is You,” was first performed in December 2019 by Chilean feminist collective group “Las Tesis” to call attention to femicide, rape and violence against women during a protest in Chile. It went viral and later became a defiant anthem in Latin America and Europe. 

In early February, feminists protested in front of Mexico’s National Palace, located on Mexico City’s main square.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had a message for the feminists that would participate in this event. López Obrador asked them not to do any more damage, just as they did when protesting in front of the Angel of Independence around August 2019.

The Angel of Independence is a monument located in the Paseo de la Reforma Avenue in downtown Mexico City. It was built to commemorate independence from Spain.  

It seems that people care more about their monuments and walls being painted than women being killed. How can they defend their monuments and feel proud of their country when femicide occurs on a daily basis and justice is not being served?

There is still a week before the strike. Much can happen in between. So far, Mexico’s president said he respects this national strike. 

In regard to what the outcome of this national strike will be, I hope that people realize how important women are to the country and to society. I wouldn’t like to think of what would happen if all the great women who are in my life disappeared forever. 

This is not a fight against men. This is a fight against the patriarchal system that dominates Mexico’s society. It will take many more generations to completely eradicate it. It may never be completely swept away, but the fight is not finished.

It is not a war between good and bad people. We can’t measure the morality of anyone else, we can only start with ourselves and how much we can do to help.

I will not be able to stop my daily activities next Monday, but I will show my support for the strike by wearing purple. I would also like to encourage everyone else to show their support for Mexico while it cries for help.