ost of Mexico’s history focuses on men and their roles in society whether it is in politics, religion, or economics while little attention has been placed on women and their many roles in Mexican society throughout the years. Mexican history has been rooted in patriarchy with men being the ones who hold the most power while women are relegated to the norms society places on them. Women were expected to marry and take care of the home while men took positions in government and went to war. However, as the years went by and society began to evolve, women began taking roles that helped make a significant impact in Mexico’s history. From women such as La Malinche, Sor Juana, and Josefa Ortiz Dominguez, to the Soldaderas who fought in the Mexican
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When Hernan Cortes and his Spanish army arrived in Mexico in 1519, they needed someone to help them translate what the Aztecs were saying in order for them to conquer their land. Upon their arrival, they turned to a young woman named Dona Marina who knew a lot about the land and spoke Nahuatl. In the accounts of both Hernan Cortes and his comrade Bernal Diaz del Castillo in “The Spaniards’ Entry into Tenochtitlan,” both write about their entry into Tenochtitlan with del Castillo briefly mentioning La Malinche in his account writing, “Montezuma welcomed our Captain, and Cortes, speaking through Dona Marina, answered by wishing him very good health” while Hernan Cortes who had a closer relationship with her, rarely mentions her in his account. In fact in his essay “Sons of La Malinche,” Octavio Paz writes on La Malinche and how she was quickly cast aside after the conquest, “It is true that she gave herself voluntarily to the conquistador, but he forgot her as soon as her usefulness was over” …show more content…
When the War of Independence began in Mexico in 1810, women took up different roles in the fight for independence. Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez was married to Miguel Dominguez who was later on made viceroy of Queretaro. Around this time, there was discontent from the criollos and mestizos who were relegated to lower roles in society thanks to the Spanish government. This led the criollos to gather together in hopes of coming up with a plan to overthrow the Spanish crown, which is known as the Queretaro Conspiracy. Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez was at the center of this conspiracy having provided her home for their secret meetings while also helping store the fighter’s arms and other supplies. However, their plan was discovered and Ortiz de Dominguez was imprisoned but she still managed to get word out to the others that their plans were discovered. Independence provided women with new opportunities to participate in politics
When Hernan Cortes and his Spanish army arrived in Mexico in 1519, they needed someone to help them translate what the Aztecs were saying in order for them to conquer their land. Upon their arrival, they turned to a young woman named Dona Marina who knew a lot about the land and spoke Nahuatl. In the accounts of both Hernan Cortes and his comrade Bernal Diaz del Castillo in “The Spaniards’ Entry into Tenochtitlan,” both write about their entry into Tenochtitlan with del Castillo briefly mentioning La Malinche in his account writing, “Montezuma welcomed our Captain, and Cortes, speaking through Dona Marina, answered by wishing him very good health” while Hernan Cortes who had a closer relationship with her, rarely mentions her in his account. In fact in his essay “Sons of La Malinche,” Octavio Paz writes on La Malinche and how she was quickly cast aside after the conquest, “It is true that she gave herself voluntarily to the conquistador, but he forgot her as soon as her usefulness was over” …show more content…
When the War of Independence began in Mexico in 1810, women took up different roles in the fight for independence. Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez was married to Miguel Dominguez who was later on made viceroy of Queretaro. Around this time, there was discontent from the criollos and mestizos who were relegated to lower roles in society thanks to the Spanish government. This led the criollos to gather together in hopes of coming up with a plan to overthrow the Spanish crown, which is known as the Queretaro Conspiracy. Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez was at the center of this conspiracy having provided her home for their secret meetings while also helping store the fighter’s arms and other supplies. However, their plan was discovered and Ortiz de Dominguez was imprisoned but she still managed to get word out to the others that their plans were discovered. Independence provided women with new opportunities to participate in politics