A Look at the Creative Ways Feminists in Latin America Are Getting Their Message Across

By:
Nov 27, 2019
4:22 PM

Earlier this week, feminists across Latin America organized protests during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. From Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to South American countries like Chile, women and their allies took to the streets to march against femicide rates, restrictions on reproductive rights, and overall inequality.

With chants that were repeated across the region like the resounding “Ni una menos” and creative posters with strong phrases against the patriarchy, the marches reflected a long tradition of using art as a way of resisting. We also took note at Latino Rebels of how they used performance art —theatre, dance, song— to speak out against gender violence.

Here are just some of videos showing how activists got really creative to get their message across, sin pelos en la lengua:

In Chile, protesters learned a choreography that’s over a minute long where they call out the system, and even the president, for its complacency in the violence against women. In one part they sing, “Y la culpa no era mía, ni donde estaba, ni como vestía,” while dancing, pointing to how authorities blame victims for attacks they’ve endured.

In Puerto Rico, protesters created a reggaeton chant, embracing la cultura, and singing, “rompe el suelo con la cacerola.” Cacerolas (pots and pans) have become a symbol of protest since they were widely used for noise making during the marches against now-ousted  Ricardo Rosselló.

In Dominican Republic, a theater group created a performance that included dancing to Romeo Santos’ song “Eres Mía.” The song has some sexist lyrics where Santos is singing to a woman who is marrying someone else, insisting to her “you’re mine.” The actors called out the misogyny in lyrics by pausing their bachata dance in different instances to play out violent scenes, like when Santos sings “don’t be surprised if one day I come into your room and suddenly make you mine.”

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Un poco de "Hilando mariposas". Texto y concepto general: @pauladislard en unión con el performance "Urdimbre" de @irisvperez. Dirección: @isabel.spencer. Asistencia: Ingrid Luciano. Coreografia: Senia Rodriguez (@funtepod) Productora: @yildalina, Foro Feminista Magaly Pineda. Especial agradecimiento a las actrices, actores y personas solidarias que pusieron el cuerpo para esta pieza: 1. Cibeles Sánchez @cibelessanchezp 2. Ivanova Veras @ivanovaveras 3. Manuel Robles @manuelroblesrd 4. Jafmary Feliz @jafmaryf 5. Ana Olivo @anateolivo 6. José Emilio Bencosme @emibenzay 7. Ana Teresa Rodríguez  8. Brinella Fernández. @brinellafernandez 9. Ramon Perez Sanchez  10. Uxio Lis @uxiolisr 11. Arlenis Lajara  12. Francis Diaz  13. Ana Karen Reyes  14. Nidsbelle Guzmán @nidsbelle 15. Delmis Hichez  16. Camila Díaz @caroalvarado22 @felipezizhu 17. Alex  18. Roberta Santoro @betadaria 19. Xander Figueroa @xander14260 20. Saray Figuereo @saray.is.done 21. Omara Bell  22. Jankir Contreras  23. Isis Martínez @isismartinezp 24. Patricia Alcántara @pachyalcantara 25. Carolina Chapp 26. Sahel Durán @sahelduran 27. María Moreno (Si se me queda alguien .. ayuda) . Gracias a @lauristely Y @awildapolanco.m por su colaboración desde temprano. Fotos y video que me llegaron por whatsapp. Reclamar autorías. #marchadelasmariposas #24n

A post shared by Drama Caribe/ Ingrid Luciano (@dramacaribe) on

In Colombia, women chanted to the lines, “somos las hijas de todas las brujas que nunca pudieron quemar” (“we’re the daughters of the witches you couldn’t burn”)—a line that has become popular among feminists worldwide.

In both El Salvador and Dominican Republic, shoes were displayed to represent the women who have been killed. Both of these countries have some of the highest femicide rates in the region.

In Mexico, a group of 800 women clad in white, laid on the floor for a silent demonstration in honor of those who have been murdered.

And there’s dozen more examples. Tag us on Twitter @LatinoRebels with any demonstrations that stood out to you.

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Amanda Alcántara is the Digital Media Editor at Futuro Media. She tweets from @YoSoy_Amanda.