country under my skin

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Patricia L Valenton Magallớn October 10, 2011 English 1A Paper # 2: THE COUNTRY UNDER MY SKIN Women Who Seek Equality Gioconda Belli is a daughter, mother, citizen, poet and a woman who believed in the impossible. Who would’ve thought that someone who lived in the upper class would want to help her country and its people for change? Women, including Belli are expected to do less because of being a woman. Belli was given light loads which made her wanting to prove her capabilities more by being more achieving and active within the movement. Many disapprove that Belli should take part in the decision making and activities in the Sandinista. People believe that women are not supposed to be engaging in rebellious movements. Some of Belli’s experiences included women not being allowed in combat, and Sandinista women not given leadership positions. This causes 1 | Page

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English Book Essay

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Patricia L Valenton Magallớn

October 10, 2011 English 1A

Paper # 2: THE COUNTRY UNDER MY SKIN

Women Who Seek Equality

Gioconda Belli is a daughter, mother, citizen, poet and a woman who believed in the

impossible. Who would’ve thought that someone who lived in the upper class would want to

help her country and its people for change? Women, including Belli are expected to do less

because of being a woman. Belli was given light loads which made her wanting to prove her

capabilities more by being more achieving and active within the movement. Many disapprove

that Belli should take part in the decision making and activities in the Sandinista. People believe

that women are not supposed to be engaging in rebellious movements. Some of Belli’s

experiences included women not being allowed in combat, and Sandinista women not given

leadership positions. This causes women to be easily judged, noticed and belittled. What is good

about this is that there are people like Belli and the people involved in Mujeres Creando who

believe that women deserve better. They are continuously fighting for women’s rights, opinions

on gender equality and also the goodness and beauty of being a woman. In spite of the

limitations that women have, there are these women who have made changes and successfully

accomplished them. There is still inequality between genders but this did not hinder women to

achieve and succeed. There are now presidents, politicians, doctors and other white collar jobs

that women are now participating in. Some are already well known and recognized, and this

helps inspire other women to do and achieve more.

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As a woman of Nicaragua, Belli was limited to many things. As a daughter she remained

respectful of her father’s wants. According to Belli in the book, The Country Under My Skin, she

mentioned that she wasn’t able to pursue her dream. She mentioned what her father said that,

“Medicine is not for women.” (15). Clearly, it shows that women are already limited even at a

very young age. As a poet and a wife, she was limited to do things. Belli mentioned, “My

husband then announced to me that he didn’t want me publishing anymore poems unless he read

and edited them first.” (38). Belli’s husband clearly misunderstood the poems she wrote. Belli’s

husband wanted to control Belli’s actions. Also, she was limited to small tasks in the Sandinista

movement. Belli mentioned her experience of Sergio Ramirez asking for help when she least

expected it. Belli said, “I was upset. I didn’t understand why only at the last minute they had

decided to use me. It seemed like a lack of foresight, a troubling symptom of their tendency to

improvise.” (165). It seemed like the men only thought of Belli when they had nothing else to

do. It is like using women as last options, or when there’s no more choice. This limits women in

showing what they are really capable of doing.

A woman has a sacred body that is to be adored, appreciated and respected. According to

Gioconda Belli’s book, The Country Under My Skin, She described how disappointed her family

was when she wrote poems about the beauty of being a woman. “My aunt looked at me,

horrified…Shameless pornography…” (37-38). Women shouldn’t be uncomfortable when

talking about their bodies. Instead, it should be given respect and appreciation. This shows a

limitation to Belli being a poet and a woman. It is like her family stopping her from speaking

about herself. Well in fact her poems were never vulgar or explicit. She was just being honest

about how she feels about women and their bodies. Also, the poems she wrote were viewed by

men in different perspectives. Belli wrote, “Men leered at me with hungry, knowing looks…”

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(38). It is very disappointing that poems written by Belli made men view women more as sexual

objects. It clearly states women are treated as men’s sex drive. Belli wrote the poems to share her

honor for a woman’s body; unfortunately it was misunderstood and disrespected by the people.

Belli mentioned her experience being harassed by the owners of the agency she worked in. Belli

states, “Both of them harassed me constantly, the first with sexual innuendos and the second by

keeping constant tabs of my movements.” (137). It is very unfair that women are being viewed

as primarily sexual objects, or people that are only supposed to care about their looks. This limits

women to act and hinders them to achieve in life.

There are many limitations and double standards that still exist and are sometimes not

dealt with. This causes women not being able to completely achieve gender equality. In Mujeres

Creando, the people behind it have experienced many violent acts caused by men. Stated in

Benjamin Dangl’s book, Price of Fire, an incident including a woman was beaten up, and was

abused. An account stated, “3 women refused to dance, and rejected an offer for group sex, they

were attacked by 15-20 people. They were beaten up and dragged in the streets…the act was

dismissed by the press…they were feminists and lesbians.” I can’t seem to understand why it

matter if they are feminists or lesbians, they are still human beings. It seems unfair that the

people involved in the act was not given punishment, but instead has gotten away. Another

example of a double standard that is happening now is women who engage in sex with men are

labeled as whores, and men doing the same are called to be studs or very cool people. A woman

was battered to death by her boyfriend while people at the bar just watched because “she was just

a prostitute.” Narrow minded individuals judge what they see. The act is very violent and still no

one even bothered to help or call the authorities. Much more disappointing is that this woman

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was not able to achieve justice after the incident. How can there be gender equality if there are

people who cannot act equally to everyone?

Women like Belli and the women behind Mujeres Creando are very strong individuals

who believe that changes can happen. Mujeres Creando is a feminist group in Bolivia that

consisted of people from all walks of life. They basically address issues about sexuality, women

rights and unjust treatment to women. According to the Price Of Fire, Mujeres Creando is a

group who manifested change that they want to see in the world. “Mujeres Creando participates

in street activism and produces a lot of writing.” (169). They clearly made their mark by

creating a publication, making graffiti, doing exhibits and many more. The group was definitely

aiming for change. They were very determined to communicate with everyone and to let

themselves be heard. Like Mujeres Creando, Gioconda Belli has also been successful with the

Sandinista movement. Belli was very determined to act for a change because of her children and

country. According to Camilo Ortega in the book, “The Country Under My Skin,” he mentioned

to Belli that contributing to the Sandinistas will help build a future for her children. “Your

daughter is precisely the reason you should do it, you should do it for her, so that she won’t have

to do the job you are not willing to do.”(34). Being a Sandinista meant a lot of risks, but at the

same time she will be able to fight for her children and the generations to come the life that she

never had. She wanted to prove others that she is capable of doing small contributions that can be

very beneficial to the community. Belli stated the amazing feeling of knowing that anything is

possible. “When you dream of things like changing the world, there is no power more beautiful

than the feeling that you can make it happen…there was no dream that cannot be fulfilled.”

(250). She knew that believing and determination will lead to the change that she wanted.

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There are many limitations and double standards that still exist today. Violence, lack of

justice and judgments has happened. Due to this, we can all agree that women have not

completely achieved gender equality in the society. Belli and the women in Mujeres Creando are

excellent examples of driven individuals who seek change and equality. They have been

constantly making mark in the world as people who are eager to prove themselves in behalf of all

the women in the world. These limitations and double standards were never hindrances for them

to achieve. They are role models who inspire more women to fight for their rights, obtain

respect, and seek success.

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