The process of
globalization, is integrating the world in a new way that is empowering
individuals to take part in the global community. In general, this is seen as a
good thing, allowing for the dissemination of information and technology across
state boarders and facilitating trade. However, globalization is not occurring
at a uniform rate across the world and in some instances is causing more
problems than solving them. Northern Mexico is populated by factories called
Maquiladoras which have brought thousands of jobs to Mexico, jobs that were
then lost in the recession because of an integrated global economy. In addition,
globalization has also failed to stop the violence experienced in border towns,
a violence that has been carried out against women in Mexico to the point of
femicide. The international community remains more concerned with promoting the
benefits of globalization and is marginalizing the young women of northern
Mexico in the process.
Starting in the 1990s
cities along the US-Mexico border experienced “a wave of attacks […] that left
hundreds of women dead over the course of the decade,” and some reports argue
that the number reaches thousands
(Cave). Meanwhile the perpetrators go free and the Mexican government
and local police remain unproductive because “murders are rarely investigated
and only 1 percent are even decided upon” (“Juarez Murders”). The reasons for
the murders are varied according to one criminal investigator who claimed that
“there is everything, there are jealous husbands, jealous father –in-laws,
there are women killing women” (Cave). There are causes that range from
domestic violence to the organ and drug trade and most are characterized by
extreme aggression, or sexual assault or both (Riley). The lack of a central motives
highlights the extent of violence experienced in Juarez, to the point where
almost anything has become grounds for murder because “life [in Juarez] just
has so little value” (Cave). This violence however has not subsided and has
carried over, the death toll in 2010 reached 304 women and 2012 has already
seen more deaths than previous years (Cave).
Ciudad Juarez,
located just 20 miles south of the boarder is at the center of these female
homicides as well as the drug trade and globalization. It was one of the cities
expected to benefit the most from the Maquiladoras in the region and yet had
some of the highest death rates in the world (Larson). Women in particular were
especially impacted because the maquiladoras of northern Mexico employ mostly
women. Many of which migrated to neighboring towns in search of work, and are
isolated from the families and the communities they left behind, making them
prime targets. Subsequently the majority of the women who were killed in the
femicide that started in the 90s worked at these factories and disappeared on
their way to and from work. The factories, most of which are owned by American
corporations and assemble goods for the American consumer market did little in
terms of prevention. Women continued to work long hours which meant commuting
late at night, those who showed up late were locked out, women were even found
dead near the compound, and bus drivers who brought these women to the
factories were arrested for murder and still their vulnerability continued to
go unnoticed (Netwon). When 22 Americans went missing, a joint investigation
between the US and Mexico was launched but no attention was given to the women
of the maquiladoras that died (Netwon). In short, the factories of globalization that
were supposed to give jobs and integrate Mexicans into the global trade system
put the young women of Mexico has also facilitated their deaths.
The reason for
this occurrence of femicide in Mexico stems in part from the gender gap between
women and men, a gap, that is often reduced if not closed by the dissemination
of information from globalization. The subjection of women has long been a traditional
aspect of Mexican culture, a culture that idealizes men. Women are expected by
society to fulfill domestic roles as care givers and mothers. Women who join
the workforce violate these social customs and expectations and as a result
emasculate the role of men as family providers. Consequently, in places like
Cuida Juarez, a large female workforce is therefore seen as a threat to these
men which adds to the prejudice already against them. The cultural prominence
of males known as machismo only adds to the subordination of women which makes
them disposable and easy targets, problems globalization has yet to address in
Mexico. In addition, globalization has also expand the drug trade in northern
Mexican cities. The drug cartels of Mexico have become transnational criminal
organization and their drug routes continuously operate in Mexico’s boarder
cities. And with the drug trade there also comes a society of corruption and
violence, which consequently destabilizes their areas of operation. Local law
enforcement agencies are also infiltrated by drug cartels making them
ineffective at keeping peace in Mexico.
When Mexico
first joined NAFTA it was seen as an opportunity to spread the wealth generated
by globalization and as a way to work against poverty and the low standard of
living in the region. New factories would provide job and increase the
industrial output of Mexico, and the more revenue available to the government
for social reform and public works. However, very little improvements have been
made in the lives of the people of Juarez and the surrounding areas in terms of
security. The focus on economic progress has failed to help social progress and
women are being kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed, and to this day women
continue to be caught in the middle of a culture of violence facilitated by
poverty and the drug cartels. The international community needs to become more
aware of this, some attention has already been drawn to the situation but most
of it is restricted to condemnation for the Mexican government that remains
incapable of addressing the issue. Globalization was expected to draw the world
closer together, connect areas that had never been connected before, and close
the social gap between women and men. The murders of the women of the
maquiladoras were partly caused by globalization and can also be the tool used
to address the violence the global community needs to become more aware of the
situation and globalization can facilitate that dissemination of information if
more of an emphasis is placed on social
components of Mexican society.
Works
Cited
Missing Yong Women (Senorita Extraviada). Dir. Lourdes Portillo. PBS, 2001. DVD.
Cave, Damin. "Wave of
Violence Swallows More Women in Juzarez." New York Times.
New York Times,
23 June 2012. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.
Gates, Sara. "Juarez
Murders: Mexican Government Unveils Memorial For Slain Women.
"The
Huffington Post.com. TheHuffingtonPost, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/juarez-murders-memorial-slain-women_n_1842936.html>.
Newton, Micheal. "Los
Choferes." Crime Library. N.p., 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.
<http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/ciudad_juarez/7.html>.
Riley, Jessica. "Brutal
Female Homicides Continue in Ciudad Juarez With No End In Sight."
Examiner.com. Clarity
Digital Group, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.
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