Powerlessness In Women

The documentary we watched illustrated the difference between unwelcome and involuntary actions in the sense of sexual harassment. Many of the women tell their stories where they became active participants in some sexual encounters but it was mostly out of fear of violence as well as losing their job or being deported. For many of these women who had to support not only themselves but also family members in the United States as well as Mexico, could not afford to lose their jobs or their place in this nation. For this reason, they may have allowed these actions to occur but they were not welcomed and completely consensual.
These women would not have allowed.
(2) Discuss the ways in which power/powerlessness comes into play in the situation of women …show more content…
They also have the power of being American Citizens and knowing of these workers undocumented status. This could allow them to have these workers deported if they do not do whatever they ask of them. This adds to the fact that these often male farm workers tend to have male privilege and do not share the fears of many women of being taken advantage of.
(3)Along with the issue of relative power between the farmworkers and farm owners comes the idea of vulnerability of farmworkers. How is this illustrated in the documentary?
Farm workers are particularly vulnerable for many reasons as illustrated by the documentary.
For one, they are often in harsh conditions outside and oftentimes without proper equipment.
They are also often left alone in isolated areas of fields and this is where many female farmworkers are sexually assaulted. Along with that, since the work for farmworkers is so seasonal, it is easy for farm owners to let them go or simply not take them for the following season. This leaves many farmworkers trying to prove themselves to the owners in any way possible, including sexual favors or allowing their young daughters to be taken advantage