Soldaderas

 

The early 20^th Century marked a profound change in the role of women in Western society. Women’s suffrage gained traction and women in the United States got the vote. The societal stresses of World War I accelerated the movement of women into traditionally male jobs such as driving streetcars, and working independently in munitions factories.

Women played a significant role in the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920, and the soldadera has become one of the iconic images of that great upheaval.

The popular image of the soldadera — strong, sexy and badass — fits right in with the current pop culture demand for empowered, ass-kicking women.

The reality behind the image is more prosaic — and it’s not really all that modern. Yet the stylized, mythologized version is not without a grain of truth.

For the most part, soldaderas in the Revolution played a role that would have been familiar to camp followers in armies of the 17^th and 18^th Century: They were cooks and laundresses; lovers and nurses.

For both the federal army and the rebel armies, Soldaderas were used to transport goods, cook meals, set up camp sites, and carry the equipment for the soldiers. Soldaderas were said to almost always be spotted carrying cooking utensils, cooking equipment, plants and animals. (16) These chores were delegated strictly along gender lines, and thus the role of Soldaderas is very similar to that of a home maker. Serving as a home maker accompanying their husbands to war, Soldaderas were invaluable to preparing and assisting the male soldiers fighting in combat.

— University of Michigan

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Yet some were motivated by “modern” concerns:

Some Soldaderas were feminists and socialist activists who not only fought on the rebel side, but fought for women’s suffrage, fair wages and affordable housing…..

The soldadera was immortalized in that delightful Mexican ballad tradition— the corrido. “La Adelita” was and remains a classic corrido of the Revolution.

Popular entre la tropa era Adelita la mujer que el sargento idolatraba y además de ser valiente era bonita que hasta el mismo Coronel la respetaba.

Popular among the troop was Adelita the woman that the sergeant idolized and besides of being pretty she was brave that even the Colonel respected her.

 

Like camp followers in earlier wars, the soldaderas were extremely vulnerable to the fortunes of war.

Soldaderas were subjected to slaughter and rape by opposing armies who saw defeating the Soldaderas as a great strategy towards defeating the opposing armies. Field generals knew that the male soldiers depended on the Soldaderas for their most basic necessities, so eliminating the Soldaderas accompanying a battalion provided a great advantage to the army.

— U. Michigan

The soldaderas of the Mexican Revolution did not have a major combat role, but they did go armed, they did fight in a pinch, and their capacity for self-defense has become part of their modern image. That image has also been sexualized, which is troubling to some.

Modern-day Chicanas in the United States have been particularly affected by this image of the soldaderas as either a feisty woman or promiscuous follower. While some Chicanas find identification in the strength and bravery of the women soldiers, others are offended by the negative connotation brought on by association.

— U. Michigan

Personally, I have no problem with the iconic image of a strong, feisty, well-armed and sexy woman. I find both the historical and the mythic image compelling. And if both images help to build a sense of authentic empowerment and self-reliance for women, more power to ’em.

Viva Las Soldaderas!

* The “Adelita” portraits of Alan Padilla…