Feminism and the Futile in The Vine Leaf Lucas Maley College

In the early twentieth century vast social change was occurring across the country of Mexico. The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 and ultimately resulted in the introduction of a more democratic government that championed the people. But an aspect of this revolution that is often overlooked is the role of women. Women played a critical role in the revolution by fighting alongside men as well as providing medical care. This allowed women to occupy a higher status in society temporarily and they tried to leverage this to gain equal rights. But the majority of their reform efforts failed and after the war they were largely put back into their traditional domestic roles. The Vine Leaf by Maria Cristina Mena was written during the Mexican Revolution and can be seen as an allegory for the role women played during the war as well as a social commentary on society’s resistance to change, specifically feminism, due to the dynamic tension between society and the oppressed.

While it is often overlooked, women played a crucial role in the Mexican Revolution. One of the most important roles women assumed was that of the Soldaderas. Soldaderas were female soldiers who often fought alongside the men. They also served as nurses, cooks, and...