Monica’s story of transformation—Mexico
Mónica Santiago Peña is a 27-year-old Mixtec woman from Oaxaca. She is the beneficiary of a variety of services from GESMujer, a Pangea partner since 2015. GESMujer aims to transform society into one that is more equitable and just to women in both indigenous and urban communities. They are one of three current Pangea partners that a group of members will visit in the next week during our site visit to Oaxaca, Mexico.
Read Monica’s story of of transforming from a life of depression and self-depreciation to one of an empowered woman, mother, daughter and educator.
Despite having a fruitful education and an apparently stable life, I suffered from gradual depression due to injuries that, for years, cut down my spirit and silenced my voice. Thanks to support from another woman, to whom I am still indebted, I approached the psychological counseling services at Casa de la Mujer Rosario Castellanos. The path was not easy: I abandoned and attacked myself, but finally allowed myself to cry incessantly from the injuries of abuse, unrequited burdens, and near losses. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Lina Herrera for her support for nearly two years of treatment.
On the other hand, although I knew of and was sympathetic towards feminist politics through my professional development, it was through healing my emotional state that I recognized my bravery and myself as a survivor and realigned my direction within the feminist movement. My participation in a video about the “Myths of romantic love” by GESMUJER is an example of this. Through the support of other women, I have been able to reshape myself with self-love and responsibility for my own emotions. I also discovered that there is no complementarity, where one fulfills a lack in another, but it is rather through shared respect and companionship that we can have a “sex-affective” relationship. And that even in the name of “love” we should not endure aggressions such as being ignored, hit, or feeling that we are less at the expense of our well-being.
My participation in creating educational games for students about the prevention of teenage pregnancy has motivated me to raise my hand and shout that we should continue our fight for a more just life for and with future generations, both from indigenous communities and urban areas of Oaxaca. Let’s allow unbiased information about sexuality to reach our younger populations. They will therefore have full knowledge of their rights, live each stage of their lives responsibly, grow in various areas of their lives, and above all share healthy relationships free from judgment.
Lastly, I would like to thank every GESMUJER partner for supporting me, seeing changes reflected in me, and mutual growth. And so I reconciled with my vagina, my womb, my soul, my body, where they killed me (they kill us), and as a survivor, I’m still alive (that’s how we love each other) looking to be freer (more options for us). I welcome my (re)positioning as a mother, daughter, sister, friend, cousin, niece, granddaughter, ally, life-long companion.
Monica’s video interview with GESMujer about romantic love: