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Talks about the importance of coming together as female artists because the industry would rather see females compete against each other.

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Becky G Explains The Importance of Female Collaboration & Camaraderie | Billboard

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39. Fight Against Women Rights in Mexico Through Music 

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39. Fight Against Women Rights in Mexico Through Music 

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Redefining Rap, a genre that for some is associated with aggression, violence and misogyny.

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Latina Lista: News from the Latinx perspective

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By Nancy Landa
LatinaLista

Mare Avertencia Lirika is a Zapotec hip-hop artist from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico who is redefining Rap, a genre that for some is associated with aggression, violence and misogyny.

However, for Mare, rap has become a means of expression not only of her indigenous roots but also of her feminist and socially conscious upbringing. Words allow her to claim her own history and that of the people in her community.

Growing up in a region of Oaxaca with a high rate of marginalization and emigration, Mare's childhood was influenced by poetry of resistance which she learned from her teachers.

In a recent interview with El Universal, Mare reflects on how her own life and family struggles propelled her to be engaged in the fight for social justice.

"Being able to understand how difficult it was for a mother to take care of her children and how migration impacted my family, it made me have a sense of awareness and responsibility from a young age," she explains.

Mare raps the truth of the conditions of Mexico - of social inequality, oppression and sexual violence towards women. Her music video " Bienvenidx" from her new album " Siempre Viva " (Always Alive) is a critical analysis of Mexico, its integration into a neoliberal economic system that only serves the political elite. It also highlights the issues of systematic violence, oppression, unemployment and forced migration.

For the fearless hip-hop artist, music has become an alternative space to awaken consciousness of her people, and to strengthen networks within social movements in Oaxaca and beyond.

Music is only a part of Mare's activism as she is also engaged in local indigenous communities, infusing popular education in her talks and workshops aimed at empowering youth and women.

Mare is currently on tour in the United States, taking her lyrics and her progressive thinking to migrant communities. She has already performed in Santa Ana and Los Angeles this week, and is headed to Northern California. Other U.S. cities included in Mare's tour schedule through mid-May include: Eugene, Oregon; Chicago, Illinois and Philadelphia, PA. For more information on performance schedule, visit her official Facebook page.

Mare's story as an up-and-coming MC in Oaxaca is featured in the documentary film, "Cuando Una Mujer Avanza - When a Woman Steps Forward" (2013), by Manovuelta Films.

Photo: Diptria Studio / Mare Avertencia Lirika
Nancy Landa is a freelance writer and founder/owner of Mundo Translated. She is also experienced in bilingual public relations & digital advocacy strategy. Follow Nancy via Twitter @MundoScholar or Google+

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Zapotec Hip-Hop artist uses feminist rap to fight for women in Mexico

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By Nancy Landa LatinaLista Mare Avertencia Lirika is a Zapotec hip-hop artist from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico who is redefining Rap, a genre that for some is associated with aggression, violence and misogyny. However, for Mare, rap has become a means of expression not only of her indigenous roots but also of her feminist and socially conscious upbringing.

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38. Mare Advertencia Lirika - Feminist Singer

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38. Mare Advertencia Lirika - Feminist Singer

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This song goes into depth about the injustice in Mexico and the fight against women violence.

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Mare Advertencia Lirika - SE BUSCA (Video Oficial)

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Explanation of the movement from the traditional Mexicana women became the progressive Chicana women.

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The Birth of Chicana Feminist Thought

Of all our sources, Karen Anderson's Changing Woman provided the most indepth explanation of the movement from the traditional Mexicana women became the progressive Chicana women.
Mexicans as refugees
Present day Chicanas are descended from the Mexicanas who immigrated to the United States after the unrest of the 1910 Mexican Revolution. These Mexican citizens were tired of the social and economic instability they found in their country and hoped for greater opportunity in the North. The Anglos settlers did not greet them with open arms, but instead saw them as outsiders who could be exploited on the labor market. Through this, Mexicans began their transformation from traditional Mexican women controlled by their husbands, to fledging workers with a larger degree of control in their households and society.
Mexican-American women in traditional roles
Traditionally in Mexican society, Mexican women were under the authority of Mexican men. Men derived their macho maleness from both the jobs they worked and their dominion over their wife. Mexican women had status chiefly due to, at a young age, their virginal purity, and later as a capable wife and mother. This virginal purity was extremely important because in Mexican society young women were considered sexually erratic, capable of sin against their society and their religion at a moments notice. Therefore men's control of their women's sexuality was at the heart of their duties as Mexican men and their reputations were tied to it. This is important Mexican men were loathe to allow Mexicanas to change their role as male identity was dependent primarily on control and upholding of traditional female identity. Because of this, Mexicana's felt trapped in this role that gave them few other options for expressing themselves.
Motherhood as Power
Male domination of women does not take away from the power women derived from their role as a mother. The problem was that this role was heavily predicated on a women's ability to have as many children as possible and sacrifice as much as possible for them. As can be imagined, raising three or four or five children is quite a sacrifice. A woman with many children would have no choice but to pursue the motherly role. A woman who would only want one child would be considered a social pariah, not an "independent" woman.

Mexicanas as workers

Mexicanas great leap forward came about as Chicano families gradually adapted to the market economy of the U.S. Large agribusiness farms prevented subsistence agricultural life and forced Mexican men to work for wages. As attitudes in America liberalized, women were let into the workplace. This dramatically changed their status. Even though they were at the bottom of the wage laborer ladder, they now had a social identity that was independent of the men. Women worked in both factories and domestic service work.
Resistance from Macho Culture
Men did not take to these changes lightly, "A Mexican printer in Chicago asserted that "if our wives went to work, they would meet some other men and would go away with them; I would not blame my wife, I would blame myself, because I have control of her." As a result, most married Mexican women took work outside of the home only as a last, desperate necessity." 4 Women were still discriminated against in terms of their wages. In a 1936 U.S. Women's bureau study, Mexican women made $5.85 a week to a white women's $8.75 5.

Soon, with a greater release from the old tradition economic role of the mother, Mexican-American women were at the beginning of a crossroads in their gender and power. They began to adopt Anglo progress in terms of women's rights. As some Mexican women slowly adopted modern customs, such as smaller families, two working parents, and especially birth control, Mexicanas made great social progress.

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The Birth of Chicana Feminist Thought Of all our sources, Karen Anderson's Changing Woman provided the most indepth explanation of the movement from the traditional Mexicana women became the progressive Chicana women. Mexicans as refugees Present day Chicanas are descended from the Mexicanas who immigrated to the United States after the unrest of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

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This genre of music is used by many Mexican Hip-Hop Artists.

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Words: Jhoni Jackson
Illustration: Larissa Hoff

When Daddy Yankee's Gasolina was unleashed into the world in 2004, it spread like wildfire.

The quickly-iconic hit signalled a new era of Latinx representation in mainstream culture, something that had been missing since Mexican-American pop star Selena was tragically murdered at the height of her powers in 1995. Fifteen years later, and it still commands a perreo intenso (or, intense grinding) like no other when DJs drop it in the club - which they do, all over the Anglo world, frequently.

Fast forward to 2017 and Daddy Yankee is featuring on Luis Fonsi's chart-busting hit, Despacito, signalling another reggaeton revolution. By the following year, the song's unprecedented commercial success had even garnered Fonsi Guinness World Records recognition: it spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in the Billboard charts (a feat only topped by Old Town Road), became the most-streamed song worldwide and was the first YouTube video to hit five billion views. And that's just the beginning.

Right now, reggaeton is closer to pop than it's ever been

But in its commercial triumphs, and in comparison to Gasolina, Despacito also serves as an indicator - and a guidepost - for how the genre's sound has permeated into the mainstream. Right now, reggaeton is closer to pop than it's ever been, a powerful force in the music industry, underwritten by skyrocketing YouTube views, Billboard chart placements and global concert sales.

The genre's popularity in Western markets might seem sudden to some, but it has a history. Reggaeton, an intoxicating blend of Spanish-language reggae, dembow rhythms and dancehall, is an adaptable, living genre. For better or worse (depending on who you ask) reggaeton has evolved over time - and never more so than in the 2010s. Its latest commercial iterations rely heavily on trap and pop, harnessed by chart-topping artists like J Balvin, Ozuna and Arcangel. It's upped the dancehall quotient at times, and dialled it down, incorporated more or less of its fundamental rhythm, dembow, and even spawned surprise mutations, like when Bad Bunny's Tenemos Que Hablar folded in touches of pop-punk.

The building blocks of the genre, though, trace back to late- 70s Panama. The US-controlled Canal Zone construction drew in West Indian workers, and when the area was returned to Panama in 1979, Jamaican riddims paired with Spanish lyrics flowed on local buses called Diablos Rojos (red devils). In the early 90s, the sound grew with the Puerto Rican collective The Noise, which included pioneering female artist Ivy Queen. Founding figure DJ Negro ran a club in San Juan by the same name, and it was there that the collective, plus artists like Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon and Wisin & Yandel, propelled the movement.

Reggaeton was a fountain of unadulterated joy for many, warranting close dancing and unrepentant sexuality as a form of catharsis

Reggaeton was a fountain of unadulterated joy for many, warranting close dancing and unrepentant sexuality as a form of catharsis. And as it's prominence rose, spreading to other Latin American countries and the US, the genre became an unmatchable source of pride for Latinxs.

As a result of the Gasolina-aided mid-00s commercial boom, the past few years have been a blur of hits - many that have changed reggaeton's landscape forever. A major accelerant in this is Bad Bunny's boundary-breaking debut album X 100PRE. A rich tapestry of trap, reggaeton and bachata, it features a cameo from Ricky Martin on self-love anthem Caro, and with Solo de Mi, Bad Bunny fortified the song's affecting lyrics with a message of solidarity with domestic abuse survivors in its music video. Most notably, though, the album was praised for its unabashed emotional vulnerability and, paired with Bad Bunny's meticulous manicures and eccentric, neon-hued fashion sense, presented male reggaetoneros in a different light altogether. Operating in the same arena where Puerto Rican artist Anuel AA espoused homophobic lyrics in 2018 diss track Intocable, Bad Bunny's aesthetic and social stance felt significant.

Reggaeton and urbano are, in some corners, also running parallel to the #MeToo movement. Artists like Natti Natasha, Karol G and Becky G are flipping the genre's overt male-narrated sexuality to the female POV, reclaiming agency with each beat. There's the aforementioned politics of Bad Bunny's X 100PRE and, earlier this year, he teamed up with Puerto Rican rapper Residente in what many heralded as a step forward in feminist progress. Their joint track Bellacoso is all about being horny as hell - but explicitly "sin acoso" (or, 'without harassment'), spotlighting consent as the centre of the song.

the inclusion of feminism and queerness shores up the genre's ability to grow and adapt

An offshoot of this is the neo-perreo movement, a digitally- drenched, feminist iteration of dembow led by artists like Tomasa Del Real, Ms Nina and DJ Rosa Pistola, and outspoken queer artists like Sailorfag, La Pajarita La Paul and the late Kevin Fret, Puerto Rico's first openly gay Latin trap artist who was fatally shot in his hometown this year. For a genre with roots in the hyper-patriarchal Latinx landscape, the inclusion of feminism and queerness shores up the genre's ability to grow and adapt to the world around it.

This progress wouldn't have been possible in any other decade. As an Extremely Online generation, people from marginalised backgrounds the world over have created new platforms for themselves on the internet, raising their communities and culture to new heights. Latinxs have also followed suit in this movement, boldly expressing our varied identities with unflinching pride.

This was the decade Latinxs demanded space and reggaeton became truly visible

In the 2010s, reggaeton became our protective shield, with its infectious hooks, waist-pumping beats and inimitably radiant energy. It crystallised into the worldwide genre we always knew it could be if it was given the chance. And in a Trumpian, increasingly right-wing landscape where our Latinx identity is not only misunderstood, but largely not tolerated, the genre's success offered a sparkling counter to the antagonising narratives associated with us on the news. This was the decade Latinxs demanded space and reggaeton became truly visible - and we invited everyone along for the ride, one perreo intenso at a time.

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Words: Jhoni Jackson Illustration: Larissa Hoff When Daddy Yankee's Gasolina was unleashed into the world in 2004, it spread like wildfire. The quickly-iconic hit signalled a new era of Latinx representation in mainstream culture, something that had been missing since Mexican-American pop star Selena was tragically murdered at the height of her powers in 1995.

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35. Film - Mexican Hip-Hop: Somos Lengua

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35. Film - Mexican Hip-Hop: Somos Lengua

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From Guadalajara to Mexico City, Monterrey to Tijuana, this documentary lets the rappers speak for themselves and draw us into their raw worlds with freestyle and rhyme.

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34. Music Event in Mexico - Festival de Mexico

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34. Music Event in Mexico - Festival de Mexico

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A lot of rap/hip/hop music is played at this event and art madd my Mexican feminists is displayed and recognized. (March)

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A rule that all Mexicans live by, there is not a single dull moment when you're in Mexico! Known for its delectable cuisine, over joyous people, and its rich culture, people from all over the world travel here for just a glimpse of the Mexican charm. And what better way to do that than be part of their festivities! Take a look at some of the best celebrations of this country, and plan your next vacation here keeping in mind the Mexican festivals that you want to be a part of.
11 Best Mexican Festivals To Attend

The country of Mexico has more to its beauty and these 11 festivities prove that well. Take a look at these wonderful Mexican festivals and save your dates because you definitely cannot afford to miss them.

1. Día de Muertos
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Unlike what the name of this festival actually states, the Mexican festival Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos is a celebration of life! In actuality, November 1 and 2 are important. While the 1st is dedicated to children, and is called as the "Day of the Innocents", the second is dedicated to the people who have passed on. Graves are decorated with flowers, feasts are prepared, and families come together to remember their loved ones.

Must Read: 9 Best Places To Visit In Mexico In 2022 For A Soul-Satisfying Holiday!

2. Dia de la Independencia
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With the words of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla still resonating in the streets of Dolores, as well as the rest of country, Dia de la Independencia is the day that the entire country celebrates the start of Mexico's war of independence. Today, a couple of weeks are celebrated with artists putting up shows and exhibitions, Mexican music filling the streets, and even some costume parties! Read ahead to know some more Mexican festival facts like these!

Suggested Read: This Mexico Resort Group Is Paying Travelers For A Year Long Vacation In Six Figures Salary

3. Guelaguetza Festival
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Come July, the streets of Oaxaca, amongst other states are packed with colours. A spectacular vision of art, dance, and music, the annual celebrations of Guelaguetza are a wonderful cultural experience, especially for tourists. Since the tickets to this festival's cultural program are sold in advance, you can plan a trip around this event.

4. Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe
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As the legend goes, Virgin Mary appeared in front of Juan Diego, one of the most loved patron saints of Mexico. The apparition occurred in Mexico City, and a church has now been erected at that spot. The religious festival of Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe pays respect to this event. The story goes forward and mentions a few relics too, which are displayed in the church. This also makes it one of the most religiously significant monuments.

Suggested Read: Christmas In Mexico 2022: 9 Traditions That Reflect The True Beauty & Joy Of The Festival

5. Carnival in Veracruz & Mazatlán
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A famous fest of Brazil, carnival is often associated with that country. However, set out to the coastal towns of Mexico, and a vibrant parade will welcome you. Bursting colours, accompanied by drinks, treats, dancing, and more, this festival goes on for more than a week, which is plenty of time to experience its magic to the fullest.

Suggested Read: Soon You Can Take Mexico's Maya Train To Travel To The Yucatan Peninsula
Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!
6. Semana Santa
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One week of celebration before Easter, most commonly known as the Holy Week, Semana Santa is a fun filled festival. A beautiful blend of peaceful religious rituals, as well as some merry making, it is celebrated with a zest like no other! Like any other Mexican festivals and celebrations, carnivals are a must during such times. And so, Mazatlan Carnival is a grand affair, bringing together no less than 3,00,000 people! The carnival lasts 5 days, and ends with a day dedicated to fireworks.

Suggested Read: 15 Food Festivals In Mexico In 2022 For Savouring Mouth-Watering Dishes

7. Las Posadas
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Marking the beginning of Christmas, Las Posadas starts on December 16. Traditional songs sung by adults, as well as children, and a procession of children with lit candles are the main activities that are enjoyed during this season. Not to mention delectable sweets and treats that people gorge on while listening to stories of the Lord. The best places to enjoy this festival would be any small village in Mexico! They light up like the villages from fairy tales, and offer the best experience.

Suggested Read: The Azulik Resort In Mexico Offers Treetop Luxury & Breathtaking Views! Would You Check-In?

8. Cinco de Mayo
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Another festival in Mexico dedicated to a milestone from the past is Cinco de Mayo. It is celebrated on the 5th of May, which marks the date of victory of Mexico over France in the Battle of Puebla. This festival has the reputation of being more popular in the US rather than Mexico itself, but remains significant nonetheless. Costume parades, and musical and cultural events are conducted for a week around this date.

Suggested Read: 10 Spots For Snorkeling In Mexico Every Underwater Enthusiast Must Visit

9. Son Jarocho Music Festival
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A unique mixture of religion, as well as contemporary music, the Son Jarocho Music Festival is one of the most exciting events happening in Mexico. It takes place in a town called Tlacotalpan, which is set on the banks of the river Papaloapan. Legend has it that an image of Virgin Mary was seen floating over the waters here. This vision is celebrated every year in this town. To add to that, the famous Son Jarocho Music Festival has a number of artists performing Veracruz music.

Suggested Read: Top Mexico Beaches: 10 Perfect Summer Escapes For The Beach Bums

10. Festival de México
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The month of March brings with it a treat for art lovers in Mexico. Strewn across the city are more than 50 venues where performing art like dance, music, opera, as well as the theatre is showcased. Festival de México brings to life Mexico City while welcoming a huge amount of talent, as well as art enthusiasts as the audience. It lasts 2 weeks, with most of the events taking place downtown.

11. Día de la Candelaria
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Celebrated just after the Three Kings Day, Candlemas, or Día de la Candelaria is a religious festival too. On this day, friends and families gather and share sweets. The customary treat for this day is the sweet bread called Rosca De Reyes. Figurines of Baby Jesus, as well as the Three Kings are hidden inside this. Adding fun to this festival is the tradition where people who have got all the Three Kings have to host a party that night. Being one of the most loved Mexican festivals, Tamales is a must!

Further Read: 348 Km Long World's Largest Underwater Cave In Mexico Is A Massive Discovery
Along with some of the most enjoyable religious festivals, Mexico also celebrates art. The world's best international art festivals including music and dance are conducted here. Mexican festivals are as vibrant as the country, as energetic as its people, and as fun as the culture. Being here during any of the celebrations is a treat in itself! Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer. Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice. So, make sure that you try to attend as many of these as possible on your next trip to Mexico! Looking To Book A Holiday Package? People Also Read:
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Festivals

Chinese Festivals Montreal Festivals Jamaican Festivals

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Witness The Fun & Crazy Side Of Mexico By Attending These 11 Famous Festivals In The Country

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A rule that all Mexicans live by, there is not a single dull moment when you're in Mexico! Known for its delectable cuisine, over joyous people, and its rich culture, people from all over the world travel here for just a glimpse of the Mexican charm.

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33. Instagram - Audry Funk (Mexican Rapper/Feminist)

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33. Instagram - Audry Funk (Mexican Rapper/Feminist)

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Caption: "that we raise the color of our skin, that we enjoy it, that we celebrate our talents in community."

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Mónica Mayer Primero de diciembre, 1977WALDEN

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32. Article - Famous Feminist Mexican Artists 

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32. Article - Famous Feminist Mexican Artists 

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“Doing research on women’s art, writing about them…teaching, protesting and supporting other women artists is part of my work.”

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31. Ted Talk - Gender Inequality in Mexico

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31. Ted Talk - Gender Inequality in Mexico

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Speaks on the cultural and gender barriers in Mexico and women's limitations on resources.

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Women transforming their comminities in Mexico - CREA | Leticia Jauregui Casanueva | TEDxOaxacaCity

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30. One of  Mexico's Greatest Artists: Frida Kahlo

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30. One of  Mexico's Greatest Artists: Frida Kahlo

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She influenced feminism through the art she produced and by setting an example for modern women

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Spirited, unyielding and bold. Frida Kahlo was a woman who dared to defy the circumstances of her unfortunate life. Her works of art may have showcased great talent, but it was her tenacity in the face of hardship and a gender-biased society that have become valuable inspiration for many.

Rallying The Call Of Feminism

Today, Kahlo is remembered for being a woman who broke all social conventions. Her defiance against needing to fit in is nothing less than admirable - both back then and even now. Even Madonna - the great feminist of our time - has said that she admires Kahlo. The American singer-songwriter's Bedtime Story video has lots of imagery inspired by the surrealist movement and is filled with references to the works of Kahlo.

Despite the harsh gender equality of the 1900s, Kahlo was honest about being a woman. And that is what that puts her, even now, at the forefront of being a feminist. Never once did she hide, cower or expect to be shielded from the harsh realities of her life.

She refused to alter her features. These included her mono-brow and faint moustache, which were labelled as inappropriately "masculine". She even exaggerated them more in her self-portraits. Nevertheless, Kahlo was not afraid to be herself - a woman. She embraced colours, wearing bright and bold dresses, as well as not thinking twice about adorning herself with flowers and ribbons.

Her paintings touched on female issues such as abortion, miscarriage, birth, breastfeeding and much more. These were things considered to be strictly taboo and never spoken of at all in public back then.

Kahlo was also open about her sexuality. She was never ashamed to admit that she was a bisexual, nor did she ever feel the need to apologise for her choice of bed partners. One of her notable affairs was with American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker.

Rising Up And Standing Tall

Born in Mexico in 1907, Kahlo was said to have been a promising student headed for medical school. But life apparently had a different path for her to take - one that she was seemingly forced down on.

Kahlo suffered from polio when young and the illness caused her right leg to be thinner than her left one. She was later dealt a second blow as a teenager, whereby a serious bus accident left her unable to walk for three months. She reportedly broke her back and pelvis, as well as fractured her collarbone and two ribs. Her right foot was also crushed and her right leg broken in 11 places. A piece of handrail even impaled her.

The terrible accident also caused Kahlo to live her life in chronic pain. Not only did she need frequent surgery to help with her spinal injuries, she was largely confined to spending her days in bed. It was in her bedridden state that Kahlo discovered a love for painting. She had a specially-made easel that enabled her to paint in bed, and a mirror placed above it so she could see herself.

Yes, some of her greatest artworks were self-portraits - a total of 55 out of 143 paintings, to be exact. They are noted as an expression of her internal struggles and physical and mental suffering. "I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best," Kahlo once stated. "I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint."

She also said, "I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."

A Surrealist At Heart

Kahlo's works have been described as surrealism at its finest. She experimented with many varied styles and motifs - often shocking the art world with paintings filled with sexual references. Her subject matters were symbolic. The themes she focused on proved to be deeply personal in nature too. Her heritage for instance, or her long struggles with childlessness and femininity.

The one titled Self-Portrait With Thorn Necklace And Hummingbird (1940) is probably one of Kahlo's most widely-recognised self-portraits. It shows her in between a stalking panther and a monkey, wearing a necklace of a dead hummingbird. Kahlo completed the piece in 1940, one year after her divorce from Mexican muralist Diego Rivera (who she remarried a year later). As such, it is believed to reflect her emotional state during a dark, tumultuous life period.

The Two Fridas (1939), on the other hand, tells the story of Kahlo's emotional struggle with herself. On the left, she depicted herself clad in a traditionally European gown. On the right, her heart is whole, and she is wearing in modern Mexican dress. While initially saying that the painting originated from her memory of an imaginary childhood friend, she later admitted that it expressed her desperation and loneliness with the separation from Rivera.

A still life piece, Weeping Coconuts (1951), represents Kahlo's projection of pain. The fruits in this piece are literally weeping. A small Mexican flag bearing the words "Painted with all the love. Frida Kahlo" is stuck into a prickly pear. There are many who believe that Kahlo was signalling the deterioration of her health with this particular painting. And it may be true - it was completed just three years before she died in 1954.

Her art drew from music too. The popular Mexican song Cielito Lindo is believed to have touched Kahlo so much that she named one of her paintings Arbol De La Esperanza, Mantente Firme (1946), which is a line from this song.

And in turn, Kahlo became an inspiration for many other musicians. British rock band Coldplay stated that the idea behind their album Viva La Vida is Kahlo's unwavering strength in facing hardships. Incidentally, her last painting before she died was named Viva La Vida, Watermelons (1954).

During her last years, Kahlo painted mostly fruit and flowers with political symbols such as flags or doves. She was very much concerned about being able to portray her political convictions at that time. It is said that she also altered her painting style: her brushstrokes, previously delicate and careful, were hastier, her use of colour more brash, and the overall style more intense and feverish.

Kahlo never backed down, and she never apologised for just wanting to survive. As she so succinctly put it, "They thought I was a surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality."

In recent years, Kahlo's influence has only grown thanks to the coming-together of social media and a new awareness of female power; in some aspects, she has been reborn as a feminist icon for a new generation. Over half a century after her death, the myth of Kahlo remains as alive as ever-on Instagram, her official account boasts a following of 1.2 milllion strong, while 2020 saw the release of a feature-length documentary by filmmaker Ali Ray re-examining her life and legacy.
Cover Image: Bettmann / Getty Images Writer | PY Cheong
PY Cheong has plied the trade of words long enough to recognise the difference between writing and storytelling. Believes in always dressing up his prose. Living and breathing the work he does.

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Spirited, unyielding and bold. Frida Kahlo was a woman who dared to defy the circumstances of her unfortunate life. Her works of art may have showcased great talent, but it was her tenacity in the face of hardship and a gender-biased society that have become valuable inspiration for many.

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Film that takes place in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Emphasizes women empowerment and gender inequalities.

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Tired of being mistreated by their husbands, Ema (Reyes Spindola), Clotilde (Elizarraras) and Chayo (Orozco) leave their past (children and husbands included) and begin an adventure that will take them to a cavernous cabaret in Guadalajara, a love affair with a hot-blooded young drug dealer and, finally, a popular and well decorated mexican restaurant in downtown L.A. In the middle, the three women will find their respective self-esteem and their true reasons for living. - Maximiliano Maza <mmaza@campus.mty.itesm.mx>

What is the English language plot outline for Mujeres insumisas (1995)?

Answer

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Mujeres insumisas: Directed by Alberto Isaac. With Patricia Reyes Spíndola, José Alonso, Lourdes Elizarrarás, Regina Orozco. Tired of being mistreated by their husbands, Ema (Reyes Spindola), Clotilde (Elizarraras) and Chayo (Orozco) leave their past (children and husbands included) and begin an adventure that will take them to a cavernous cabaret in Guadalajara, a love affair with a hot-blooded young drug dealer and, finally, a popular and well decorated mexican restaurant in downtown L.A.

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28. Popular Location of the Emergence of Mexican Rap Groups

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28. Popular Location of the Emergence of Mexican Rap Groups

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In 1995, rap continues to gain strength and groups from the Federal District and the State of Mexico continue to emerge.

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27. Article - Famous Hip-Hop Singer Interview on Women's Rights 

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27. Article - Famous Hip-Hop Singer Interview on Women's Rights 

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She explains why/how she is using her voice as a Mexican Artist, for women's rights.

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Becky G Explains Why It’s So Important to Fight for Gender Equality

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Becky G explains in an exclusive video for Global Citizen how she is using her voice for women’s rights.

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26. Becky G - Live Performance (Mexican Singer)

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26. Becky G - Live Performance (Mexican Singer)

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Lyrics emphasize female empowerment and that "it is ok to be leaders, to be us without being judged".

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Becky G - "24/7 / Sin Pijama / Mayores" Live | MTV EMA 2019

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"Murals began popping up on walls in poorer neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city."

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Street Art in Mexico has exploded in the last several years. Mexico is no stranger to cultural graffiti as the ancient Mayans and Aztecs covered their temple walls in beautiful imagery. Muralism became famous here in the 1920's after the Mexican Revolution and Mexico has been embracing art on its walls ever since. These days it's experiencing a bit of a renaissance, becoming popular with the help of social media. Since arriving in Mexico, one of our favorite things to do is wander the streets admiring all the colorful murals and graffiti art. Come along as we take you on a digital tour of street art from some of Mexico's most popular spots.

A Brief History

Made famous by people such as Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, and David Siqueiros the muralist movement has become the most studied part of Mexico's art history. After the Mexican Revolution, the government commissioned murals for public buildings to reinforce its political message. Most of the population was illiterate so the government needed a different way to get their message out. Themes of the murals primarily related to politics, nationalism, and history.

Over time, the artists came to reject the direction of the murals passed down by the government. They began to paint their own ideas and values. These days murals cover a wide range of themes extending far beyond that of politics and religion.

Mexican Muralism has also improved the art scene by creating a platform that can be enjoyed by the masses. It liberated art from the art market making it readily available for everyone. It was no longer only reserved for the elite members of society. This has allowed artists to find exposure on a much larger stage.

It's this history of muralism that makes the urban art movement in Mexico different from similar movements around the world. This is why Mexicans are more open to the idea. They don't see it as invasive graffiti as long as it's beautiful and has an argument. Police don't mind as long as the artists get permission from the property owners. Artists will even present sketches of their plans to neighborhood residents before they begin to paint.

Using the Aid of Social Media

Thanks to social media, Mexican street art has gained a huge following through Instagram. Many of the most famous Mexican street artists have incredibly large followings. Now countries around the world are inviting them to add color to their walls.

On a slightly unrelated note - It's interesting to think about the impact street art, in general, has had on the social media sphere. Namely, Facebook where we "post" our opinions and ideas to our "wall."

"Imagine a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked, where every street was awash with a million colors and little phrases, a city that felt like a party where everyone was invited." - Banksy

Now that you've been given a look at what inspired street art in Mexico, get ready to feast your eyes on some of the best we've come across in our travels here!

Street Art in Mexico

Mexico City

Nowhere has seen the surge of street art quite like Mexico City has. Murals began popping up on walls in poorer neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. Then they started sprouting up in more upscale neighborhoods such as La Roma and La Condesa and now visitors can see them around every corner.

It has even inspired art collectives such as Street Art Chilango that help promote the art and even commission public and private works. It's even possible to book walking street art tours of the downtown area. If you'd rather not join a tour, head to their website where they have an interactive map showing all the great murals around the city.

Guadalajara

The street art is equally abundant in Mexico's second biggest city, Guadalajara. Some good places to look are in the Americana neighborhood.

Guanajuato

In the UNESCO city of Guanajuato, the buildings are already painted in bright colors making street art less plentiful. But ducking into the neighborhoods can provide a wealth of beautiful murals.

Puerto Vallarta

This is where we've spent the most time in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta has several amazing works scattered throughout the city. Many of them are from the #RESTORCORAL Mural Project, meant to raise awareness of the destruction of coral reefs in Mexico and around the world. Check out the official Instagram account to stay up to date with the latest murals.

Other Murals around Puerto Vallarta

The photo at the very top of the post is in Puerto Vallarta as well.

Sayulita

This little surfer town is about an hour by bus up the coast from Puerto Vallarta.

Yelapa

Yelapa is a little town south of Puerto Vallarta only reachable by boat and it still boasts plenty of murals.

As you can see, there are amazing works of art on display all over Mexico. It's just another reason to visit this amazing country (as if you needed one). We hope you've enjoyed this photo essay as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you!

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Where's your favorite place to see street art?

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Street Art In Mexico: An Explosion of Color ~ Grateful Gypsies

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Street Art in Mexico has exploded in the last several years. Mexico is no stranger to cultural graffiti as the ancient Mayans and Aztecs covered their temple walls in beautiful imagery. Muralism became famous here in the 1920's after the Mexican Revolution and Mexico has been embracing art on its walls ever since.

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The themes of systemic oppression and women empowerment in her lyrics are visible throughout the album.

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Describes the oppression against female rappers in the Mexican music industry.

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"The men can become aggressive with us and use harsh and sometimes violent words against us," said Leslie Reyes, the only female rapper on a local music label. "So we create our own spaces like this."

Four of Oaxaca's female rappers: Leslie Reyes, Gloria Villalobos, Cynthia Pombo and Yadira Cruz Garcia. Credit... Walter Thompson-Hernández/The New York Times

"This is who I am," rapped Gloriel Villalobos, 26, known as Doma, standing in a circle with four other female rappers in Oaxaca, Mexico. A portable speaker blared an instrumental beat as the women took turns rapping.

This scene is replicated nearly every month in the main square by a tight-knit group of women who are rapping as a way to draw attention to issues like poverty, gender inequalities and disenfranchisement of indigenous communities.

"We used hip-hop as a way to speak about the injustices that we all faced growing up," said Mare Advertencia Lirika, one of the best-known rappers in Oaxaca. She uses her music to call attention to the indigenous communities throughout Oaxaca who she says are historically disenfranchised from social services by the government.

"The men can become aggressive with us," said Leslie Reyes, the only female rapper on a local music label and studio known as Bear House Company, after a freestyle practice session days before the Zocalo performance. "Which doesn't make us feel welcomed, so we create our own spaces like this."

The Oaxacan rap scene has been dominated by men since it was first established in the early 1990s, influenced by United States rappers like Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube and a host of others. American hip-hop music eventually made its way to Oaxaca through the physical exchange of compact discs and cassettes from relatives who traveled to and from California, home to the largest Oaxacan population outside Mexico.

But as the American rap scene - both then and now - often incorporated hostility toward women, so, too, did the Oaxacan rap scene.

As online music platforms like Soundcloud and YouTube have become more accessible, the local hip-hop scene has grown.

And these women want a part in shaping the scene.

Video

Mare Advertencia Lirika performing in Mexico. Credit Credit... Walter Thompson-Hernández/The New York Times

Mare Advertencia Lirika's raps are an ode to the women who have influenced her. The rapper identifies as Zapotec, an indigenous community in Oaxaca and throughout California, and credits her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who have all had an enormous impact on her music and life.

While music and art has been a staple in the Oaxacan cultural tapestry for generations, the introduction of hip-hop when she was 12 years old gave her a voice, which eventually allowed her to question patriarchal systems of power and speak out against indigenous inequalities.

When she was 16, she began rapping as one of two women in a group of seven called Oaxside Connection. The name was inspired by the Los Angeles-based Westside Connection in the mid-1990s, composed of Ice Cube, Mack 10 and W.C. She later formed a female trio called Advertencia Lirika. Yet she still felt relatively disconnected from American rap because of the language barrier.

"I came from an entirely different context," said Ms. Lirika, who grew up listening to banda, the Mexican brass-band music, and traditional Oaxacan music.

Once she was introduced to the sounds of Mexican rap groups like Black G and the Northsiders, she fully integrated herself into the Oaxacan rap scene. She has been the only Oaxacan rapper to have performed throughout the region and in the United States, South America and Europe. Her weekly travel schedule includes frequent shows and performances throughout Mexico. She now supports herself solely from her music.

"Most people still think that women aren't compatible with rap and think that we are wasting our time," she said while taking a break from recording a song at Bear House Company Oaxaca City. "We have to continue to show up at shows because it gives us confidence to see other women rap and to show people that we can also do this."

When Cynthia Pombo records and practices in her room, her daughter, who is 4, tends to sit on the bed next to her, eagerly clinging on to every word that her mother recites.

"When my daughter was born, my life became very difficult because I was a teenage mother," she said. "But she helps me write from the bottom of my heart because she is one of the best reasons to smile every day."

She currently works at a photography studio and will be enrolling in medical school this fall. She was influenced by her older brother, who was part of a break dancing team in her neighborhood of Monte Alban, 15 minutes from the center of the city.

Ms. Pombo wrote poetry as a way to combat crippling depression. Her friends told her to convert her poetry into rap songs nearly a year ago. "Converting poetry into rap has helped bring me peace," she said. She now goes by the stage name Eriz, inspired by the Greek goddess Eris.

She was 19 the first time she rapped at a party of a friend. There were almost 30 men and only two women in the room. She remembers hiding her face with her phone so that she could correctly recite the words. When she looked up she saw that no men in the room were paying attention to her performance.

"I knew at that moment that it wouldn't be easy for me to be a rapper," she said. "I had to find a way to be strong because that was how it was going to be for the rest of my career."

While her older brother fully supported her decision to become a rapper, the rest of her family did not. "They thought rap only glorified drugs or and violence, which is how most people in Oaxaca tend to think," Ms. Pombo said.

Her family eventually changed their minds when they realized that instead of violence, she was rapping about the struggle of being a single mother and about romance.

Using rap as a medium to address societal problems like patriarchy and machismo is important to Gloriel Villalobos. The social justice organizer hosts rap workshops throughout the state. According to Ms. Villalobos, conscious rap music pushes back against popular forms like narcocorridos, a genre of Mexican norteño music, that often glorifies violence and the mistreatment of women.

"It's especially important for me to work with women who have no voice in their homes and in communities," Ms. Villalobos said, referring to violence against women. As of last year, the state of Oaxaca was declared to be on "maximum alert" after what appeared to be the random killing of seven women in a span of a week. The threat continues to grow in other countries throughout Latin America according to a report released by Argentina's Wanda Taddei Institute.

Today, Ms. Villalobos's rap career has mainly grown by creating savvy campaigns through social media platforms like Instagram and Soundcloud, a site she uses often to promote her music. She is currently completing an album featuring the other women featured in this piece.

Since graduating from the local university with a degree in design, she has committed herself to rapping full time and, like her mentor and friend, Ms. Advertencia Lirika, she hopes to use her growing profile as a tool to push for change.

"It's my way of pushing back against patriarchy? through rap because it feels like it's the only way sometimes," she said. "The work that I do in these communities is more important then fame or likes or making music videos."

"When I'm rapping I am transported into another world,"said Yadira Cruz Garcia, a mother of two.

Ms. Cruz Garcia is the only woman in a rap group called Cascos Calle 7 and is also a part-time cook. She began singing at age 5 with her father, who played the guitar at a local Adventist church.But she only started rapping five years ago. Her family, who supported her performances in church, felt differently about her choice to rap because they thought rap only spoke about murder and violence.

Her lyrics, though, are more gentle: "I feel the air touching your body, that's a motive and a new beginning, reviving all that has died between us, may your soul shine bright anew," she raps in "Busca Colores."

She hopes to help change her family's views about rap and also thinks about how the music will affect her two young daughters. "It's hard to attend events with my daughters so I have to be aware of what I rap about and make sure the songs don't affect them in a negative way," she said.

Earlier this year, Ms. Reyes was in a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, which left her hospitalized for 10 days and incapacitated for almost three months.

"The accident made me look at life differently," she said. "Once I got out of the hospital, I began to write more and more."

She was first introduced to hip-hop by an uncle visiting from the United States who brought her a CD At 17, she started rapping at a local underground rap battle event and envisioned herself like one of her favorite rappers from the United States, Eminem.

Today, Ms. Reyes is the only woman in Bear House Company, one of the most prominent co-ed groups in Oaxaca. In betweenworking at her parent's neighborhood corner store, she spends her time recording songs with her group approximately five times a week.

"Rap has saved a lot of us, and we need people to know that," she said.

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Oaxacan Rap Has a Female Voice, Finally (Published 2018)

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"The men can become aggressive with us and use harsh and sometimes violent words against us," said Leslie Reyes, the only female rapper on a local music label. "So we create our own spaces like this." "This is who I am," rapped Gloriel Villalobos, 26, known as Doma, standing in a circle with four other female rappers in Oaxaca, Mexico.

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Many of these artists incorporate the theme of female empowerment in their art.

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21. Documentary - The Missing Women of Mexico

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21. Documentary - The Missing Women of Mexico

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Many women disappeared from the border town of Juarez, Mexico (Human Rights)

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20. Traditional Women Clothing in Mexico

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20. Traditional Women Clothing in Mexico

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Image shows the traditional clothing in Mexico; bright colors, heavily embroiled, & colorful

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Book presents a series of conversations with Mexican women and their correlation to the Mexican Feminist Movement.

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17. Female Rappers' Meaning Behind Lyrics

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17. Female Rappers' Meaning Behind Lyrics

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Goes into depth about the inequalities in Mexico.

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Female Rappers Fight Violence In Mexico With Lyrics | MSNBC

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Covers topics such as: political issues, music, fashion, food, culture

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Artists Speak Up About Injustice Through Graffiti Murals 

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"I paint for the women who are no longer here"

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art translates to: Silence Kills

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13. Female Rappers Protesting Against Women Violence

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13. Female Rappers Protesting Against Women Violence

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Make a career out of bringing positivity to a negative environment.

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s darkness descends over the imposing green mountains on the outskirts of Mexico City, Luz Reality, a 32-year-old rapper, steps under a faded orange tarp and through a metal security door into the underground venue. Though a veteran of the city's hip-hop scene, she admits she still gets unnerved by the constant threat of assault in the areas around Ecatepec's clandestine concert venues.

In recent months, this barrio has been plagued by a grisly series of abductions and murders. In one case, a woman was found burned on an empty patch of grass. The victim somehow survived the brutal attack and was still alive when police found her, but died later from her injuries.

As is almost always the case in Ecatepec, the murder went unsolved. People here know better than to expect investigations and arrests - but lately the neighbourhood has been on edge. Frustrated with the violence, residents have banded together to beat and publicly shame alleged criminals on several occasions.

Tonight, Luz couldn't even find a taxi driver willing to drop her off at the venue for her show: an empty Ecatepec lot. She had to walk from the main avenue down desolate streets where kidnappings can happen unnoticed.

The neighbourhood has become regarded as Mexico's " capital of violence against women". Luz knows the stories about women disappearing, but tries not to let fear limit her life. Since 2012, on average more than one woman has been killed every week in Ecatepec, and last year this violence escalated.

The dynamic is similar to what happened in in the northern border city of Ciudad Juárez, just south of the Texas border, in the early 1990s. Earlier this month a Spanish woman was kidnapped from a wealthy area of the city, killed and dumped in a canal in the state of Mexico. Between 2005 and 2015, no fewer than 3,604 women were killed in the state of Mexico, where Ecatepec is located. It's an alarming trend - yet each individual murder is just another statistic that barely gets mentioned in the capital's biggest newspapers.

Not formally part of Mexico City, Ecatepec is a residential area that has grown in fits and bursts. A generation of people from the countryside came to settle here in the 1980s and 90s, trying to carve a niche for themselves on the fringe of Mexico's rapidly transforming, globalised economy.

The streets surrounding the venue hosting Luz and her friends tonight are a shabby agglomeration of dull-grey cinderblock buildings, most of which were improvised one storey at a time. In contrast, the rappers look like fireworks of fluorescent pink and purple, their gold watches and neon attire shimmering over the sea of cement.

With the bass beat thumping, Luz psyches herself up for her performance. She eyes a cadre of teenagers in t-shirts holding plastic cups of beer and Buchanan's whisky (the local favourite), who form a semi-circle in front of the small, second-storey stage. The crowd is young and riled up. In the back corner, a few scruffy men cut up lines of cocaine on a cell-phone. Inside the cement-block walls, the thumping music creates a warm refuge from the world outside.

I was proud of Ecatepec. But now, if I had the chance to leave, I would. I don't see a future here.

Luz Reality

"We're women and we deserve respect!" Luz shouts into her microphone.

One of Mexico's best-established female rappers, she has made a career out of bringing positivity to a negative environment. As she steps out to join her three rapper friends in the centre of the second-floor stage, Alix Toxik (Luz's skinny, ebullient group-mate) grabs the microphone and shouts: "Ladies In Tha Hood in the casa!"

Alix's beet-red hair and gold chains dance as if they are pulsating with an electric current. Then Luz steps out towards the edge of the stage and shouts: "In Mexico there are a lot of femicidios so this song is called For My Girls."

As a manic, minimalist beat streams out of the DJ's speakers, Maya La Insana, Luz's heavyset partner in rhyme, bobs her head and unleashes a rapid-fire volley of lyrics: "I don't deal with fiction, just the truth. We listen and we stay quiet. It's better to run your mouth ... Where are the people who want to criticise me? [The people] who want to finish me off?"

In the crowd, a menacing, broad-shouldered man in black clothes and sun-glasses holds up his smart phone to take video, while a group of teenage boys rises from their refuge along the cement wall to watch the performance.

To the side of the stage, Luz and Alix dance frenetically to the energetic beat, jumping up to rap in unison for the song's chorus: "I still help my girls in the street; I still help my girls on the stage!"

Even with a few technical difficulties, the show is a welcome respite from what has been a difficult period in Ecatepec. A few weeks earlier, an entire family was dismembered and stuffed into bags in the railyard that runs through the neighbourhood. In another incident, two policemen were killed during their lunch break.

For 20 years, though, rap has helped Luz process the world around her. She first heard about it as a teen in the early 1990s. Her friends' families came from different parts of Mexico, so hip-hop became the common chord that tied them together.

****

Ecatepec exploded as a byproduct of Mexico's shift from a corrupt, state-led development strategy based on protectionism and nepotism to the current paradigm of neoliberal economic policy and export promotion. Subsidies that had supported small-time agriculture were dismantled, so poor, rural residents flooded down from the mountains into the valley in Mexico City.

As Mexico's economy dipped into crisis and nearly collapsed, the newcomers found themselves in a precarious position. Families built small shacks using found materials and the neighbourhood expanded up into the hills. In 1995 Mexico's economy imploded, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers competing for jobs in the informal economy - hawking sodas at stoplights, selling tacos from carts or working as foot soldiers in Mexico City's expanding criminal enterprises. As kidnappings surged to unprecedented levels and every day was marked by multiple homicides, it became known as the world's most dangerous city.

In this environment, Luz and her friends learned to navigate the streets, shopping for hip-hop cassettes at open-air markets called tianguis and finding solace in the bravado of early-90s gangster rap. Cypress Hill were Luz's favourite group; the lyrics helped her take ownership over a difficult environment.

Where I'm from, the [guns] be smoking / I'll be damned if you think I'm jokin' / Know that I'll come with the static, erratic, .45 automatic. It's is a Cypress Hill verse that was written about LA, but also reflected the mentality in Ecatepec. Luz was inspired; she started penning her own raps to Cypress Hill beats, but tried to find a way to forge her own version. "We're not chicanas [Mexican-Americans]," she explains.

As the decades passed, families have replaced cardboard and sheet metal with sturdy cement bricks and added multiple storeys to their homes. In a parallel trend, Mexico City has seen a boom of real-estate investment and a new wave of renovation. Now the city centre is filled with the hulking skeletons of new skyscrapers, and upper-middle class neighbourhoods are enjoying a surge of new construction and rehabilitation.

As infrastructure and security have improved, Mexico City has become recognised as a major hub of cultural activity. The New York Times named the capital as the top place to visit in 2016.

The situation on the periphery of the city, however, is less stable.

"Now in the parks there are drug addicts, robberies," Luz explains. "Most people go to Mexico City to work; they don't work here."

The US Chamber of Commerce in Mexico ranks Ecatepec as the second most challenging security environment for businesses in the country. According to this analysis, the suburb trails only Reynosa, Tamaulipas - the border city that serves as a base for the notorious Zeta cartel - in terms of security problems.

Ecatepec has evolved since the early 90s, but in many ways it hasn't improved. "Even though there are malls now, they don't help. It's ugly and violent, and is no place to raise kids," Luz says.

"I was proud of Ecatepec. [But now,] if I had the chance to leave, I would. I don't see a future here," she says.

After 7pm you don't go out. Not in car, walking, or in taxi

Luz Reality

A number of multinational companies have built new factories in Ecatepec, but Luz has never worked at any of them. "The shifts are long and pay is low. To work you have to go to Mexico City or find self-employment selling things at the markets," she says.

After she saw a female colleague get kidnapped, Luz left a job teaching kindergarten for a post at a small stationery store near the main plaza. While she has friends who have found jobs in IT and marketing departments in the steel and glass skyscrapers downtown, Luz herself - like nearly 60% of the women in Ecaptepec - works in the sprawling, informal economy, in a job that doesn't include benefits.

Ecatepec is now home to 1.6 million people, more than half of whom live below the poverty line. Too many aspects of life here still feel improvised and incomplete. There may police patrols on the wide throughways, but on the side streets security is scarce.

A few weeks after the concert, Luz meets up with bandmates Alix and Maya at a pizza place. The women have broken their self-imposed curfew to have a celebratory dinner to mark the end of a successful day recording a video.

In the afternoon, they revel in the activity in the bustling square, rapping to the camera in the golden afternoon light. The plaza brings together old men who have spent decades working in the fields with young parents taking their toddlers to watch the clowns, with teens on BMX bikes and skateboards. As is the case in small towns in the mountains, Ecatepec's main plaza is the centre of community life: "It's representative of Ecaptec's culture. You've got the skaters, the rappers, the B-boys," Luz explains.

As night sets in, Luz and her band-mates bounce in front of big graffiti murals down the street from Luz's house, using a friend's car headlights to illuminate the last few shots of the day. With the camera off, the swagger subsides quickly.

The pizza restaurant's windows and doors are made of heavy steel bars that look strong enough to stop a truck from crashing through. Although a few people gather at a nearby taco restaurant and a food truck still stands down the road, mostly the streets are empty.

Luz ties Ecatepec's hip-hop culture to the cholo culture popularised by Mexican-Americans in early-90s California, Cypress Hill among them. She and the rest of her generation are still wedded to these traditions of DJing, rapping, graffiti art, and breakdancing.

But she fears the neighbourhood's younger generation is more tuned in rapping as a form of aggression - notably in rap battles - and, worse, as an ancillary activity to drug dealing. The younger rappers are less interested in painting murals or organising dance competitions and far keener to embrace criminal culture.

Waiting for her pizza to arrive, Luz explains: "What I want is young people to know me. I think there are fewer rappers, fewer graffiti artists now." She sees her neighbourhood's cholo culture fading away. "It's dying," she says.

The hard-edged bravado of the new generation may be more in tune with the current reality of Ecatepec, where drug gangs recruit teens and local mob bosses have turned the neighbourhood into a depot for the retail narco trade. The crime wave has overrun the local police and created a new environment of violence and impunity.

"It's changed a lot. Before it was safe, now it's the most dangerous municipality in Mexico state. It's the worst place in Mexico for femicidios," Luz explains. On 7 August, the body of a young woman was found near a canal in the nearby town of Zumpango. The victim had been raped and tortured. "There's a lot of gender-based violence. I think it's getting worse," Luz says.

****

The pizza parlour is empty and playing loud banda music, but Alix, usually so exuberant, lowers her voice: "As a woman, when I have to go to the Río de los Remedios neighbourhood, I'm scared. I have amigas who live there. They say that girls coming out of the subway there get kidnapped and taken away in cars. They disappear."

The subway stop is next to a highway and few tarp-covered stands selling bootleg CDs. From the stairs that lead down from the train tracks, visitors can see a long expanse of cement buildings and only a few patches of green in the distance.

"It takes a lot of risk to go on the road," says Luz softly. "They've taken a lot of women."

The attacks on women have been well documented by the local tabloids. In December 2015, police discovered the body of a 20-year-old, raped, and beaten to death in an empty lot in Ecatepec. In March, 2016 one of Ecatepec's own police officers fled town after torturing and killing his own girlfriend.

Taking a moment to cut and serve slices of pizza, Luz says: "I think it's worse than ever."

She lives in a gated community with a guard who watches through a heavy metal gate. Inside, residents have built fences to separate their houses from the street, some girded with razor wire. Outside of her neighbourhood, Luz feels unsafe: "After 7pm you don't go out. Not in car, walking, or in taxi," she says. "You can go to the supermarket and the taxi driver will rob you."

Her brother was carjacked right in front of the security post at the entrance to her neighbourhood. "They put a gun on him and took everything he had, even his gum," Luz explains.

But she continues to grind, penning lyrics and recording videos. One of her new songs, I'm Still On My Feet, sums up her attitude. Over a bouncing, bass-driven beat she raps: "After everything I've been through, I'm still on my feet. I don't let myself get beaten."

She tries to stay positive but the situation in Ecatepec is heart-breaking: "[Now] it's worse. There are more femicidios than Ciudad Juárez, more kidnappings.".

In some cases, the violence is meted out by partners and ex-partners. In others it's organised crime, kidnapping women to force them to work in the sex trade. Other times random assaults are carried out by gangsters in a realm of impunity.

On 4 September, infuriated residents banded together and cornered two thieves, beating them severely before police arrived. Luz knows that many neighbourhoods now hang signs warning would-be criminals that burglars will be lynched. The vigilantism doesn't make her feel safer.

When she's home, inside her house, behind the security gate at the entrance to the street, Luz feels safer Ecatepec is her cradle, but also her prison. "It's stagnating - I think it will get worse. It's like love-hate: I was born here, but I'd like to leave. I don't want my son to grow up here."

Luz isn't the only local artist trying to draw attention to the violence in Ecatepec. A few weeks earlier, a group of activists had staged a demonstration by the murky Remedios River that cuts through the neighbourhood.

Wearing trash bags around their bodies and rope around their arms (the accoutrements routinely found tied to corpses that wash up on the river's shore), they shouted in protest: "The river has become a watery grave!" "Women are kidnapped and left here in trash bags!" "Ecatepec is a tomb!"

Meanwhile the traffic zoomed by on the freeway next to the canal, truck drivers honking as they passed, drowning out the women's voices. Then a police car stopped on the side of the highway. An officer walked up to the demonstration, took a few pictures on his cell phone, and walked back down the hill to his car.

"There are thousands of women who have disappeared. We are asking for justice!" a woman shouted. The officer didn't respond.
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Female rappers take a stand in Mexico's capital of violence against women

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On average more than one woman per week is killed in Ecatepec, on the outer edge of Mexico City. But despite living with this constant threat of brutality, local female hip-hop artists are using their music to try to change attitudes

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One of Mexico's most famous Hip-Hop Festivals.

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Maxima Hispanic Fest, Georgetown Delaware

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Mexico's most populated cities: Mexico City, Tijuana, Iztapalapa, Ecatepec, Guadalajara, Leon, Monterrey

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Mexico Map Major Mexican Cities Mexico Stock Vector (Royalty Free) 105204299

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Find Mexico Map Major Mexican Cities Mexico stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day.

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Many people argue that their music isn't proper rap because it didn't come from "the streets".

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Northern parts of Mexico; Tijuana, Monterrey, Tamaulipas

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Plan your trip around Mexico with interactive travel maps from Rough Guides. Use Rough Guides maps to explore all the regions of Mexico.

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Graffiti Art Depicting their Anger Towards Inequality against Women

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Activists dance outside the human rights office, which has been run a shelter for women and children.

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6. Mexican feminists protesting against violence in women in Mexico City. 

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6. Mexican feminists protesting against violence in women in Mexico City. 

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A group of radical members turned a building into a home for women.

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Mexican Feminists Turned a Government Building Into a Women's Shelter

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The rise of Mexican-American rap. The genre has gained acceptance around the globe.

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From The Streets To The Stage, The History Of Rap In Mexico - Zenger News

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Once considered an aggressive street genre, rap has gained acceptance among Mexicans.

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Chicano Rap as a genre of music in Mexico 

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Chicano Rap as a genre of music in Mexico 

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#1
Hip-Hop database defines Chicano rap as: a sub-genre of hip hop that embodies aspects of Southwest Mexican American or Chicano culture. It is typically performed by rappers and musicians of Mexican descent.[1]

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#4
Lyrics going into depth about human rights and discrimination against marginalized groups.

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JEZZY P | SUPERHÉROES | One Shot - Plumas Atómicas

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#3
Incorporates lyrics about women empowerment and being successful regardless of her background.

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JEZZY P 'La Formula Perfecta' (Video Oficial)

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#2
Instagram caption: "This is a reminder for all our women artists to take the spaces, these spaces are also ours and they belong to us!"