Strong Women of Jaltemba Bay Series Part 2. This five part series intends to applaud and share the stories of several Jaltemba Bay women. While they range in age and economic background, all of the women showcased share a richness of character, a deep commitment to family, and a strong love of community.
Proudly Mexicana: The Garcia Plascencia Sisters of La Penita
Tara A. Spears
So many little -known Mexican women have an impact on their community and their country. These unknown women go about their lives often making daily sacrifices for their families or to help their pueblo. They are proudly Mexican, hard-working and caring-the backbone of Mexican society. These ordinary women are some of the most inspiring Mexican women you should know.
Since September is a very patriotic month it is appropriate to recognize the importance of women’s contributions to the development of modern Mexico. In the independence celebrations Josefa Ortiz De Dominguez is mentioned. Josefa is a ordinary woman who fought together with Miguel Hidalgo (the father of the Nation), Iturbide and Morelos, to liberate the people from the “Gachupines”- the name that was given to the Spanish oppressor of the Mexican people. Tradition encourages that Josefa should be recognized during the traditional cry of Independence, 16 September, which happens in the main square of each state, town or municipality. This custom is a way to honor the woman, mother, daughter, grandmother who risked death to help free her nation. (Alma Doris Garcia Plascencia)
In La Penita de Jaltemba de Compostela lives a vibrant family that includes six sisters. The six Garcia Plascencia sisters could be the poster girls in ads for modern Mexican women because they embody all the qualities that define the 21st century Mexicana. They are hard working; passionate about education, possess a deep love of country and family and strive for a better life. Reynalda, Idalra, Elvia, Judith, Rosario, Alma Doris are true Nayarita –born and raised in La Penita. Alma explains “We learned love of country and social responsibility from our grandfather and parents. My grandfather was active in the pueblo and was elected president of the ejido. Our family always participated in pueblo activities.” In fact, it was her grandfather that had the first telephone in La Penita and neighbors could use it make calls. Her grandfather always helped those less fortunate and passed that attitude on to his granddaughters.
Their mother, Inez Plascencia Hernandez, is 86 year old mother of ten children and 21 grand and great-grandchildren who still is active with her church and town functions. Daughter Judy said “Inez was a person who got to know the way of life, another way of thinking and the culture of another country that was not her own. Our father was deeply connected to working the land. Both are proudly Mexican!”
“It was different in my mother’s time. Growing up I saw it in other people, other families. We did not see the violence against women at home, never with my mom, because my dad respected and loved mom. Our father always said he wanted the same thing for us women. He wanted us girls to know and prepare for the future.”
The occupations of the six sisters range from small business owner to stay-at-home mom to self-employed house cleaners to therapist. Rosario, Elvia, and Judy, have unfinished educational careers because “we were housewives after we got married. But when we separated from our partners, we had to work on our own to support our children and the best hours for us was cleaning houses.” But when the sisters were teenagers, it was expected that they to go to work right away. “Even if we dreamed of more studies it just wasn’t available at that time.” However, all of the sisters strongly encourage their children and grandchildren to pursue an education. All the sisters agree that there is much easier access to education in Jaltemba Bay now than in the 1980s.
Judy said, “Women today have much more respect, and are recognized as admirable and capable of achieving anything they set out to do. Previously there was no gender equality, women were seen to as only to serve men in housework; to be submissive and little valued.”
The sisters consider their mother to be a role model: “Our mom always instilled in us respect for other people, and she never made differences between sisters and brothers (because they were men and we were women). She said that we should know a lot of things about cleaning the house, and it is because of her that we know how to cook and do our job very well.” The Garcia Plascencia sisters learned to define success on their own terms, achieve it by their own rules, and build a life that they’re proud to live and to be happy.
Women are more powerful than they recognize. For many females, it is common to have felt limited by others’ expectations or perceptions, or looked over due to gender stereotypes at least once in their lives. However, that does not mean that women have shied away from challenges. Instead, sometimes even against all odds, ladies have doubled down on their determination and drive in order to accomplish something incredible- even if it doesn’t bring wealth or fame.
Confidence, altruism and happiness are what gives these ordinary women strength. They are the friends that you make that welcome you to the community. They are the backbone of modern Mexican culture.
