I’ve known of the Juarez femicides for, I’d say, almost a decade, back when I was in high school. My uncle, who is in the military, mentioned how when he travels to El Paso, Texas; that he isn’t allowed to cross the border because of the “narcos and the murders.” I remember asking him to elaborate on the murders and that’s when he explained how hundreds of mujeres have been found dead and so many more are reported missing. I’ve done my own research on the femicides throughout the years; I’m interested in visiting Juarez to get a first-hand account of the murders. Also, another way that I knew of the femicides was through Tori Amos (I’m a huge fan) and her song, “Juarez”.
Through your book, Desert Blood, I was able to picture life on the border and really see and read what it’s like. The book provided many different contexts which helped me to understand the murders: the Egyptian, the corruption, life on the outskirts of Juarez, factory life, how NAFTA has played a huge factor into the femicides. It’s truly devastating and heartbreaking what happens to these young mujeres at the border. My mother and I have had conversations regarding the Juarez women and how no one really talks about it, no one reports it; how everyone is silent. The chapters within Desert Blood that stood out for me where the scenes that described the torture and mutilation that these women and their bodies endured. It was hard to read them because, unfortunately, I knew that these actually occurred. In a few instances, I had to put the book down for a moment, gather myself and then continue on.
It was interesting to tie in Lubheid’s Entry Denied and how immigration and sexuality are interconnected. In chapter five, “Rape, Asylum, and the U.S. Border Patrol,” further shows how womens’ bodies are affected in the borderlands. This chapter, along with Desert Blood, were difficult to read. It began to make me realize how often do these incidences occur? Where else in the world are womens’ bodies the object of a dominator? The chapter mentions how in Rwanda and in Eastern Europe, the same incidences have occurred. How can we continue to turn our cheeks and pretend that these horrific situations of rape, violence, and murder of women don’t occur?
Gregory Nava’s film, Bordertown, starring Jennifer Lopez, was, in my opinion, very interesting to watch. It, just like Desert Blood, showcases the rape, violence, and murder of the women of Juarez and in El Paso. It involved the political, cultural, and historical context as to why the murders are occurring. To know that the film did not have a wide release leaves me wondering what are the politics behind the film. Did someone out there not want this film to be released? Would it have brought more awareness and attention to t he murders? The film, in my opinion, mirrored the situation in the film where Martin Sheen’s character doesn’t want to run Lopez’s story, making me think, is this what happened to the film as well? I can only speculate but it’s still interesting. I feel that by having Jennifer Lopez, and even Antonio Banderas, in a film regarding a topic that is still very quiet, would have brought much more attention to the Juarez/El Paso area. Regardless, I feel that the film did a great job of bringing awareness to the mujeres.
“Dropped off the edge again down in Juarez
‘Don't even bat an eye if the eagle cries’, the Rasta man says
Just 'cause the desert likes your girls’ flesh
And no angel came, no angel came”
Tori Amos – “Juarez”
Through your book, Desert Blood, I was able to picture life on the border and really see and read what it’s like. The book provided many different contexts which helped me to understand the murders: the Egyptian, the corruption, life on the outskirts of Juarez, factory life, how NAFTA has played a huge factor into the femicides. It’s truly devastating and heartbreaking what happens to these young mujeres at the border. My mother and I have had conversations regarding the Juarez women and how no one really talks about it, no one reports it; how everyone is silent. The chapters within Desert Blood that stood out for me where the scenes that described the torture and mutilation that these women and their bodies endured. It was hard to read them because, unfortunately, I knew that these actually occurred. In a few instances, I had to put the book down for a moment, gather myself and then continue on.
It was interesting to tie in Lubheid’s Entry Denied and how immigration and sexuality are interconnected. In chapter five, “Rape, Asylum, and the U.S. Border Patrol,” further shows how womens’ bodies are affected in the borderlands. This chapter, along with Desert Blood, were difficult to read. It began to make me realize how often do these incidences occur? Where else in the world are womens’ bodies the object of a dominator? The chapter mentions how in Rwanda and in Eastern Europe, the same incidences have occurred. How can we continue to turn our cheeks and pretend that these horrific situations of rape, violence, and murder of women don’t occur?
Gregory Nava’s film, Bordertown, starring Jennifer Lopez, was, in my opinion, very interesting to watch. It, just like Desert Blood, showcases the rape, violence, and murder of the women of Juarez and in El Paso. It involved the political, cultural, and historical context as to why the murders are occurring. To know that the film did not have a wide release leaves me wondering what are the politics behind the film. Did someone out there not want this film to be released? Would it have brought more awareness and attention to t he murders? The film, in my opinion, mirrored the situation in the film where Martin Sheen’s character doesn’t want to run Lopez’s story, making me think, is this what happened to the film as well? I can only speculate but it’s still interesting. I feel that by having Jennifer Lopez, and even Antonio Banderas, in a film regarding a topic that is still very quiet, would have brought much more attention to the Juarez/El Paso area. Regardless, I feel that the film did a great job of bringing awareness to the mujeres.
“Dropped off the edge again down in Juarez
‘Don't even bat an eye if the eagle cries’, the Rasta man says
Just 'cause the desert likes your girls’ flesh
And no angel came, no angel came”
Tori Amos – “Juarez”
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