Femicide in Mexico and the Problem of Gender Inequality Essay

Introduction

The issue of gender violence remains urgent and relevant to this day for all nations, but the history and recent events in Mexico show that this country needs to pay attention to its current trends. One of the most significant statistics reveals a growing rate of femicide in Mexico – between 2015 and 2021, the number of femicide victims has increased by 135% (Adams). Such rates point to a deeply rooted problem connected to the structurally supported or unopposed gender inequality in all systems of the country and its government. Femicide remains one of the most devastating issues in Mexico, and it is vital to address the gender oppression and inequality that women face.

Discussion

It is challenging to classify femicide cases due to the intricate details separating homicide and femicide. The characteristics of femicide are linked to the murder of women based specifically on their gender. Moreover, the challenge lies in the lack of investigation and reporting from authorities (Méndez and Barraza 24). Nevertheless, local human rights organizations present an alarming picture – the rate of femicides continues to grow, and more and more women report feeling unsafe outside their homes (López 162). The risks of femicide are also high inside one’s home, as about 60% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners and family members (López 162). Thus, the rate of murders cannot be linked to such issues as gun violence or organized crime. The persistence of femicide as one of the major crimes faced by women is based on the long history of gender inequality.

The unequal treatment of women based on gender exists in all spheres of society. López finds that the gap between men and women in decision-making positions is staggering (160). Although women take up many jobs in the judicial and other government systems, they are employed in roles with limited or absent decision-making capabilities. In Mexico, the presence of such problems as femicide is investigated as an outcome of a rigid hierarchical relationship between men and women (Méndez and Barraza 15). Inequality is strengthened through role enforcement as women are placed below men in families, couples, and professional environments.

Thus, women have to rely on policies introduced by men to address the issue of femicide. Male politicians are not effective in combatting femicide, as can be seen by the response of the President, López Obrador, to the latest killing of Debanhi Susana Escobar Bazaldúa. Talking about the young woman’s death, he said that “this happens everywhere” (Phillips and Perlmutter). The dismissal of worrying statistics highlighted by local human rights advocates by the position of the highest authority reveals a significant issue of gender inequality in the state. Moreover, it shows that the solution to femicide and gender-based violence lies in addressing gender inequality inside and outside Mexico.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current statistics of homicides and femicides in Mexico reveal a significant and devastating change – more women are being killed yearly due to their gender. In Mexico, women are unsafe regardless of whether they are at home. Many local activists have brought up the rate of murders, and each new case is met with community uproar. Nevertheless, the rates continue to increase, and the response from politicians is dismissive. The combination of these factors reveals an underlying issue linked to gender inequality. The hierarchy dictates women’s place in society, which limits their voices and ability to improve their lives on the structural and individual levels.

Works Cited

Adams, Olivia. “Understanding the Dynamics of Femicide in Mexico.” Vision of Humanity. Web.

López, Geofredo Angulo. “Femicide and gender violence in Mexico: Elements for a systemic approach.” The Age of Human Rights Journal, vol. 12, 2019, pp. 158-183.

Méndez, Mariamne Crippa, and Adriana Rodríguez Barraza. “An Interpretation of Femicide in Mexico: Violence and Human Rights.” Advances in Applied Sociology, vol. 12, no. 2, 2022, pp. 11-28.

Phillips, Tom, and Lillian Perlmutter. “‘Femicide Nation’: Murder of Young Woman Casts Spotlight on Mexico’s Gender Violence Crisis.” The Guardian, Web.