Some efforts have begun in a country where Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua alone have reported 400 women murdered or disappeared since 1993. It is considered the "femicide capital of the world". President Calderòn is addressing the growing crisis with federal agents and the military, but the sport of killing women seems to defy eradication.
The problem doesn't reside only in Mexico. Guatemala, according to Amnesty International, has had 2500 women and girls killed since 2001. Amnesty International also addresses the Guatemalan crisis of femicide on their website.
Amnesty
International USA
Watch Bordertown and Take Action to End the Femicides in Mexico and Guatemala
"Amnesty International is proud to support Bordertown, starring Jennifer Lopez. This film tells the story of a reporter who is sent to Juarez, a city gripped with fear where hundreds of women have been brutally raped and murdered. Visit Amnesty's website."
As someone who has been a victim of this barbaric attitude, I cannot help but continue to ask, "why?" What sickness causes some men to enjoy raping, disfiguring, or murdering women?
Some think that femicide could be partly based on organized crime and "deep-rooted impunity" as reported by studies given in 2005 at a conference in Madrid with representatives from Guatemala, Mexico and Spain.
In a MS magazine article from 1992 the authors quoted the Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood, in the anecdotal but frightening statement that she "... once asked a male friend why men feel threatened by women. He replied: "They are afraid women will laugh at them." She then asked a group of women why they felt threatened by men. They answered: "We're afraid of being killed."
They offered up this Canadian atrocity (lest you begin to think the tropics is the sole site of femicide). In Canada in December 1989, a 25 year old "combat magazine aficionado" named Marc Lepine dressed up for his war and attacked the school of engineering at the University of Montreal. He separated males and females, forced the men to leave and began to shoot women after yelling, "You're all fucking feminists."
During his half-hour of fame he killed 14 young women and wounded 4 men and 9 other women. He then shot himself leaving a 3 page suicide note blaming the failures of his life on women who "... he felt had rejected and scorned him." He also had a list of 15 distinguished Canadian women who he wanted to kill.
Article comments
1 - moonraven
We call it "feminicide" here in Mexico. In the state where I live--Morelos--there have been several women murdered just since the beginning of the year (this is a small state, but at different times it has been the kidnapping capital of the republic). There of course has been a big burst of outrage--but at the same time the rightwing governor has cut funding for women's rights.
If men were being targetted just because of their sex you can bet there would be millions available....
2 - moonraven
Not to mention that if men were the targets because of their sex there would be other posts on this thread....
3 - mejicojohn
??? women are different in mexico, , , and do obey their husbands, , , that much is different, , , what happened in juarez i dunno, , , could be a lone killer, , , i doubt it was a conspiracy.
what i do know is the mexican police cant catch a chicken in a henhouse, , , doesnt matter if the victim was male or female.
4 - moonraven
Women in Mexico may have obeyed their husbands 25 years ago or more--it's no longer the case.
The situation of the murders of women in Juarez is very complex--and involves the highest level of local and state government. Almost all the women have been from the lower social classes--mostly women who work in the maquiladoras.
5 - Nancy
You're horribly correct, MR - & IMO the cause is the continuation of predominantly patriarchal cultures around the world. Men seem to have an inherent instinct to bully & threaten others, & who better to take it out on than those who are physically less strong, & unable to fight back effectively? The history of male abuse of women is not only shameful, scandalous, & revolting, but it shows NO signs of abatement or correction, sporadic attempts otherwise to the contrary. I have to admit I cheered when in Anne Rice's book, Queen of the Damned & its sequel, she had women rising up to slaughter all the abusive males in their lives. Men are responsible for most of the violence, war, & crime in this world. I hate to say it, but it would be a more peaceful world if women ran the show & most men were reduced to decorticated laborers. Testosterone would seem to be a poison to the brain & temperament.
6 - Howard Dratch
Nancy. Thank you for the "horribly correct" label. Femicide is both.
My wife of almost 40 years died in December as a result of injuries from a previous murder attempt by anti-Americans. They threatened my life repeatedly but are too cowardly to take on an old man with a pacemaker. It was easier to run a swimming woman down with a speed-boat.
However, having women (like the public minister) run the world while I am "reduced to...(a) decorticated larorer" would not have made my wife happy. The problem is one of violence, laws, equality and justice, not testosterone. She and I both enjoyed mine in happier times.
Merriam writes of "decorticated" as removing the outer layer of an organ -- "skinned alive" was my take on the word. Something I would like to be able to do to these perpetrators and femicidal maniacs globally. But "most men" is pushing it.
My wife particularly liked men -- masculine men. We both liked many Mexicans. The problem is not a blanket accusation of the sex or this country but of cultures and societal controls -- the protection of human rights for all.
7 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Howard,
It truly hurts to read about what happened to your wife, and why.
I realize now why you are so mealymouthed about reporting on Mexico - but why, when you do, it is always a factual report that can lead others to be harshly critical of the country.
Yihyú l'khém b'shanót hab'ót rak náHat,shalvá, neHamá, briút v'shalóm. Yishmór haraHamán 'aléikhem.
May you both be left to enjoy your years together in peace, and may you both derive whatever pleasures can be derived in joy and comfort. May you be bathed in health, and may the Merciful One guard over you.
B'vrakhá,
Reuven
8 - Dave Nalle
Howard, I had heard your wife had died, but I hadn't heard the circumstances until now. What a tragedy and an outrage.
Are the authorities doing anything? Can you comment on the nature of the anti-americanism you've encountered?
Dave
9 - Clavos
Howard,
I did not know your wife had died.
I can't begin to know the pain and anguish you surely are feeling, but I do want you to know that my wife and I are praying for both of you.
I'm so sorry, Howard.
Clavos