Introduction
The U.S.-Mexican War became one of the most decisive events in the history of these two countries, determining their further relations for many years to come. Many works are devoted to the study and consideration of the history of this stage of development of these countries. However, too little time is devoted to the roles of women in the war, making it impossible to fully understand their contribution and aspirations. To better understand this aspect, it is necessary to investigate the experiences and aspirations of American and Mexican women and compare them to their contributions to the war.
The Role of American Women
U.S. women performed various tasks in military operations, such as serving as nurses, assisting with the provision of supplies, and providing moral support. Despite the importance of this topic, women’s contribution to the war has been little studied, including because of their low representation (Andrews, 1920). They could not act completely openly since women were not allowed to serve in the army at that time.
There were also women who did not directly participate in the conflict and helped the front, remaining in the rear and engaged in sewing clothes or volunteering. In connection with the differences in the fields of activity, the experiments of American women were different, making it possible to look at the fields of war from different sides. Most actively supported military operations and, in every possible way, helped fight in their actions. This assistance could manifest itself in different ways, such as the creation of specific objects, such as a first-aid kit or camouflage, necessary in the war.
However, it is impossible to ignore the anxiety and excitement that women experienced when they stayed at home while their husbands and sons fought. Due to the fact that the news spread very slowly, they could not find out what happened to their relatives in a timely manner. Women were often haunted by the experience of negative attitudes due to the fact that their contribution was not given due importance (Inman, 1919). Men were given much more attention, and they were glorified as heroes for the second time, as no one spoke about the activities of women.
The Role of Mexican Women
On the other side of the front, some Mexican women made an equally important contribution to the development of hostilities.Their experiences were, nevertheless, significantly different from those of American women, and this was facilitated by their residence in areas of direct hostilities (Spence, 1917). This served to experience solid and anxious emotions that had the most negative impact on their moral and physical condition. Due to this difference, Mexican women experienced the war more closely and directly than women from the United States.
Like American women, Mexicans often took an active part in hostilities. Their responsibility was to treat the soldiers and prepare food (Merrill et al., 1997). Their experience also differed in that many women provided shelter and thus preserved life for many refugees from the recruited territories. A significant number of Mexicans contributed greatly to the war because they were involved in resistance and partisan activities. Women actively reported the positions of the enemy army and conducted subversive activities in their ranks, worsening the opponent’s position. Sabotage in supplies for the American army was helpful and had consequences that were directly reflected in the course of hostilities.
Comparison of the Contribution
American and Mexican women had some similarities in their experiments and experiences during the war. However, this was more concerned with those who remained further from the front and did not directly encounter the impacts of the conflict. Nevertheless, their experience differed significantly since they were in different positions and had different concerns, and accordingly, they experienced events in different ways.
The key difference was how they were involved in the war. American women were more relieved of emotional and physical injuries associated with conflict. At the same time, the Mexicans were directly in the center of hostilities, and they had no choice but to take an active part in the war. Due to this, the war for them was a much more significant threat than they perceived as a source of psychological injuries and upheavals. American women, at the same time, were inclined to perceive the war with a sense of pride and patriotism for their country.
The second significant difference in the roles of women from the United States and Mexico was the functions that they performed. Although many Americans took part in direct hostilities under the guise of men, their number was not enough. At the same time, Mexican women actively participated in hostilities by conducting subversive activities in the ranks of the American army and becoming partisans. Such a difference was due to Mexican women having more freedom of action than Americans.
The last difference was how women were treated during the war. While the Americans were at home under the protection of the army, it was more difficult for Mexicans to provide security. Therefore, the role of women in the United States remained entirely limited after the war and mainly retained gender stereotypical roles. Due to this, many of them suffered from the violent actions of the American army.
Conclusion
The topic of the role of women in the American-Mexican war needs more research. This conflict had a profound impact on the history of the United States and Mexico, as it influenced both societies. The experiences and reactions of women on both sides of the conflict were significantly different in their involvement. The Mexicans who lived in the durable territory were in direct danger and were forced to resist.
At the same time, the Americans were in more comfortable conditions and took part in the war only at their request from a sense of patriotism. They were also more exposed to different factors such as gender, social status, and race. Women played a significant role in historical events that developed in two countries during and after the war.
References
Andrews, Matthew Page. The women of the South in war times. Baltimore, The Norman, Remington Co, 1920. [PDF]. Web.
Inman, Samuel Guy. Intervention in Mexico. New York, Association Press, 1919. Image. Web.
Merrill, Tim, Ramón Miró, and Library Of Congress. Federal Research Division. Mexico: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 1997. [PDF]. Web.
Spence, Lewis. Mexico of the Mexicans. New York, C. Scribner’s Sons, 1917. Image. Web.