Rape in the Fields, a 2013 PBS documentary, showcases the epidemic of sexual assault in
America 's fields and farms. The sexual assault is primarily committed on undocumented women by their superiors and has gone, for the most part, unchallenged by the American government.
Undocumented workers in all areas of America are vulnerable to exploitation. There are only a few jobs available to them and, with the lack of available resources and support, employers have no incentive to provide humane working conditions. This is particularly true when the job exists in isolated areas, as field work does. Undocumented women are in mostly agricultural areas and speak little, if any, English, so they are physically and emotionally isolated from anyone who …show more content…
Another vulnerability these women face is the fear of deportation. Not only can threats of exposing them be used as a coercion tactic by their employer, they are less likely to report their victimization for fear of being arrested and sent home. One of the men interviewed in the documentary even says that documented women "typically have some outlet", but that undocumented women are particularly vulnerable.
The power dynamic, especially in light of those vulnerabilities, is important to understand when exploring the trauma of undocumented women. As Sonia Parras says, "This is the land of the dreams... Where you make your dreams come true. This wasn 't supposed to be happening like this here." Women come to America desperate for a shot at the proverbial American Dream.
When they are able to find work, they are at the mercy of people skirting laws to underpay them.
Several of the women in the documentary explained that, if they didn 't have sex with their superiors, they would no longer have a job. In the 2002 case against Harris Farms, the victim was threatened with a gun and told she would be killed if she "complained". Several of these women had come to America with family; they were supporting a daughter or had brought a
America 's fields and farms. The sexual assault is primarily committed on undocumented women by their superiors and has gone, for the most part, unchallenged by the American government.
Undocumented workers in all areas of America are vulnerable to exploitation. There are only a few jobs available to them and, with the lack of available resources and support, employers have no incentive to provide humane working conditions. This is particularly true when the job exists in isolated areas, as field work does. Undocumented women are in mostly agricultural areas and speak little, if any, English, so they are physically and emotionally isolated from anyone who …show more content…
Another vulnerability these women face is the fear of deportation. Not only can threats of exposing them be used as a coercion tactic by their employer, they are less likely to report their victimization for fear of being arrested and sent home. One of the men interviewed in the documentary even says that documented women "typically have some outlet", but that undocumented women are particularly vulnerable.
The power dynamic, especially in light of those vulnerabilities, is important to understand when exploring the trauma of undocumented women. As Sonia Parras says, "This is the land of the dreams... Where you make your dreams come true. This wasn 't supposed to be happening like this here." Women come to America desperate for a shot at the proverbial American Dream.
When they are able to find work, they are at the mercy of people skirting laws to underpay them.
Several of the women in the documentary explained that, if they didn 't have sex with their superiors, they would no longer have a job. In the 2002 case against Harris Farms, the victim was threatened with a gun and told she would be killed if she "complained". Several of these women had come to America with family; they were supporting a daughter or had brought a