I have met so many remarkable people within the past few weeks. Most of these people represent one of the most marginalized groups of people in the history of the world: women.
Confusion.
A couple weeks ago, we had the opportunity to visit a free trade zone near Managua, where 150 companies produce their goods and services, employing almost 74,000 Nicaraguans. All of the products produced and services provided (it's not just maquilas/factories in the industrial park--there are call centers, agricultural sects, among others as well) are exported. The only thing that remains in Nicaragua is the employment and the small amount of money given to the workers which they call a "salary"...minimum salary within the zone is $123 per month (the "basket of living," aka the amount it takes to buy necessities of food, shelter, etc. is around $400 per month). This is the lowest in all Central American free trade zones. We were concerned also about the working conditions as well, considering the rumors we've heard in the past about free trades having pretty horrible conditions and low labor rights. We had the chance to visit one of the factories, and I was a bit surprised by it. We walked into the florescent-lighted building where hundreds of women (and a handful of men) were at sewing machines and tables beneath hundreds of fans. They were assembling North Face and Colombia jackets. The conditions under which they were working were not appalling, but probably not the most comfortable either. We were told that this factory was about in the middle regarding if it's "better or worse" in working conditions and labor rights.
I was very torn after this visit. These women make next to no money...but it's still something--it's still a little bit of money to bring home to their families each night. And even though their working conditions might be poor and they might not have many rights as workers, they still have jobs. As one of the men from the free trade commission told us--even if they feel that their dignity is insulted, these women are not going to stop providing a salary for their families. There is no excuse for the need of such low-paid and uncomfortable employment. But what else are these women supposed to do to provide for their hungry children? Having to choose to be unemployed or work under undesirable conditions--what a horrible, yet inevitable, consequence of a ridiculously capitalist and consumerist world.
Inspiration and beauty.
Last week we spent three days in the BEAUTIFUL mountains, living in the Sontule community on the Miraflor natural reserve (just a few miles away from the city of Esteli). We had the chance to meet with an incredible group of women. They are part of a women's cooperative working with many projects in their community, such as vegetable gardens, coffee production, teaching English, tourism, and gender rights. These women have truly combated the machismo (essentially, the inequality between men and women) that is embedded in Nicaragua culture. Before organizations like this began, one kind-hearted Dona Lucia told us, the women would be "living poverty" in their house. Now, rather than staying in house, taking care of the kids and cooking, these women have learned their rights and empowered themselves and now are truly developing themselves, their families, and their communities.
My host mom was the president of the women's cooperative. During our many hours of hanging out with the family in the kitchen, she shared with us her story of empowerment and learning, and how as she became more aware of her rights as a woman, her marriage really changed. Her husband was very different during the first few years of marriage, she told us. But now after both husband and wife have learned the inequalities that fill so many Latin American families, both share in all the responsibilities of the house. Our host dad spent just as much time over the stove as our host mom.
Anger.
Just this morning, we visited a development center near Ciudad Sandino, the poorest urban area in Nicaragua. In addition to seeing and hearing about so many great development projects that are truly arising from the people, we got to meet with another cooperative. These 15 women and 3 men have been working for almost four years to organize themselves and to build a processing plant for cotton. They have even built the huge stone building with their own hands and sweat...with no pay. They remain an organized group, but have no salary to bring home to their families for Christmas. Sadly, if it weren't for the greed of foreigners, they would be a lot farther along in their process.
Awhile back, they hired a company from South Carolina to help them find someone from which to buy spinning equipment in order to make yarn from the cotton. They found a retailer in Venezuela, placed their order, and paid the $150,000 down payment. A little while later, their order arrives...but it's faulty equipment and not what they have paid for. Now, they are in the process of getting justice and hopefully getting some decent equipment, but the company that they worked with has jipped many other clients and is on the verge of bankruptcy. Until this issue gets resolved, they continue to wait...and continue to have nothing to bring home to their families.
The sadness lying behind the women's smiles was painful to see. I could tell that this empowered group had truly become a family. They have worked next to each other for so long. Why do they keep going? They have hope. Hope that soon they will actually be able to see more results from their continuous hard work. They also have pride. They have been able to construct a beautiful building...now all they need is the equipment to actually allow them to start working with the cotton.
I am so frustrated at the selfishness that someone can have and the pain and sadness a company's greed has brought to this beautiful and hardworking group of people.
Perseverance and real change.
The women of Nicaragua--from my host sister to our professors to Pastor Katia...to the leaders of feminist and woman's movements who have visited our classes--continue to inspire me. I have often asked myself, how much change can actually occur when so much injustice is embedded in the culture, in the political systems, even in the families? But these women, by combating machismo, learning and upholding their rights, and speaking out with their own voices, have shown me what true empowerment means and that change really can happen.
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