The Mariachis belong to a proud Mexican tradition. The bands are mainly made up of men and the musical genre is the quintessential embodiment of Mexican machismo. But women are trying to be a part of this male-only musical world by fighting prejudices and gender discrimination.
Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.
1. Isabel’s father encouraged her to be a Mariachi musician.
a. True
b. False
2. “Las Coronelas” is a new women-only Mariachi band.
a. True
b. False
3. There are still very few women-only Mariachi bands in Mexico.
a. True
b. False
For transcript and answers see below.
Garibaldi square in Mexico City: the heart of the Mariachi tradition. For many years, Mariachi music was performed by men only, not so surprising in macho Mexican society. But a few women are trying to break down prejudices. Isabel is one of them. Her father is a mariachi but it was hard for him to accept that his daughter would follow in his footsteps. Although there have been many women mariachi for the past 50 years, it's still harder for them to be accepted. People sometime insult them, or tell them to go back to the kitchen.
"It was a bit difficult at the start. Today it's easier. People are getting used to it, little by little. But there are many of us in Mexico. It's a silent fight. We are here, we play, and we play well."
50 years ago, women like Lupita Villa were pioneers in the Mariachi world. Her band, "Las Coronelas", was women-only and created a new genre: not only in the way they sang, but also in the way they dressed. The only way to be accepted was to play as well as men. And sometimes they were even more successful.
"Musically it's the same thing. Same thing as for men. Back then, when I would play, we were the only band, we were applauded and congratulated because we were women."
Today, Mariachi women can go to a special training school. It opened last September, and out of the 85 students there are 11 girls.
"A woman leaves this school fully trained, she can play and you can say that she's capable of playing music. If she plays with other groups, she'll have a substantial musical understanding."
But there's a long way to go for Mexican women Mariachi. There are still very few women-only bands. Mexican women, Mariachi or not, will have to continue to fight to be accepted and recognised in a still male-dominated society.
Answers:
1. b
2. b
3. a
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