Thanks to the girls who shared their experience with body issues and their perspectives on the media. I hope you guys like it and that it might help anyone going through similar situations. I had the pleasure to edit, direct, and co-write this short film at Maine Media Workshops (2008).
Monthly Archives: December 2011
In The Island… Where are the Butterflies?
Dominican Republic's Santiago Airport 2011
A few weeks ago, I traveled to the island. The picture on the blog post was taken at the airport.
It always feels like I’m traveling to another world. Actually, that’s exactly the feeling.
Junot Diaz might be right after all. He approached immigration on his book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, using science fiction themes and references. Yes, I had travel to another world, with a different temperature, people, a nation living in a different time to those of its counterparts.
I was born in the island, but I’ve adopted another nation. I even adopted its language. I love them both, for they both have their good and their bad.
However, I’m never prepared for the sudden change of setting.
Once there, I learned quickly about the “no violence against women” movement. The radio kept reporting on how the government failed to come to the aid of Dominican women and their civil rights. Hundreds of women are found dead every month, too much for such tiny island.
The promotional commercials on television encourage men not to hit women.
I felt overwhelmed with information. It definitely didn’t help that I didn’t like some of the comments and suggestions coming from some men in the media. It’s not on purpose, but some of these comments come out plain sexist.
Femicide has increased dramatically over the years. It took a few political moves and complains from enraged women for the government and the media to respond.
It makes me sad and angry. This situation shows me that the Dominican Republic needs to change its attitude towards women. Not just the island, but about whole world.
In the Dominican Republic femicide has reached extremely high levels. Of course, since the government cares more about campaigning than improving education. Women and children in the country become the most vulnerable.
