Immigration is dividing families and changing social structures in rural Mexico. As the men seek work in the United States, they leave behind the women, children and elderly. Women are doing the jobs of men and acting as both mother and father to sons and daughters. Due to riskier and more costly border crossings, the men stay in the North . . . some never to return home.  

Immigration is empowering women to step out of their traditional domestic role. Women are now in charge of the families and the finances, and in some cases, acting as sole breadwinners for the households. Machismo is giving way to a more matriarchal structure the women call “pura mujer,” or purely women. These are the stories of the women. 


***No Man’s Land: The Women of Mexico was shortlisted for the 2010 Anthropographia’s Multimedia & Human Rights Award  and will be screened at the following film festivals: 

March 5 to March 14 2010 : Geneva exhibition in the Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains

March 15 2010 : Screening of the multimedia pieces in the Montreal Human Rights Film Festival

May 12 to May 16 2010 : Exhibition in the New York Photo Festival

September 1 to September 31 2010 : Exhibition in Montreal together with the World Press Photo 2010


To view the still images go to: www.danaromanoff.com

To view and purchase the full 15 minute documentary contact Dana Romanoff: dana@danaromanoff.com

To view and purchase images contact Christina Cahill at Getty Images Reportage: christina.cahill@gettyimages.com

 

No Man’s Land: The Women of Mexico