I think this is my favourite reading so far. The Fighting Cholitas documents the ‘double life’ of traditional, Indigenous women in Bolivia who wrestle regularly. Really though they are challenging stereotypes on what it means to be a woman, as well as traditional to create a more fluid identity. Wrestling also helps as a cathartic release for everyday stresses and creates a sense of community in El Alto.
One of the more obvious features of the fighting Cholitas is that they choose to wear their traditional layered skirts when they fight, even if it seems unreasonable to an outsider. However, choosing to wear the layered skirts is to proudly express their identity not only as a woman but as an Indigenous woman as well. There is also the direct challenge to masculinity or machismo by 1) displaying aggression in the ring 2) wearing traditionally feminine attire 3) all while being wives, mothers, sisters and so forth, and they do it with confidence. These women could easily be scrutinized but choose to fight anyways as a testament to their strength and sense of self.
Moreover, being able to put the social norms aside to fight is reasonably a cathartic experience. To let your walls down and express yourself through wrestling is truly la Lucha libre. In addition, there is the aspect of being ‘idolized’ or cheered on by spectators that is also a confidence booster. People gather to see these women fight in an auditorium regularly, supporting their favourite Cholita wrestlers or booing the Rudas (the fighters who don’t obey the rules) because of its novelty and the show they put on. Children, little girls in particular, are seen in the documentary as well imitating the Cholitas fighting in the auditorium which is warming to see. The fights are usually a spectacle between good and evil or the Technicas (wrestlers who follow the rules) and the Rudas so they are also reinforcing values about justice for the young ones to emulate.
Thinking about how this was filmed in 2006, the message about challenging social norms is even more potent since there was not a widespread movement of women’s rights just yet in Latin America. There is a quote by G.D Anderson that goes “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength” which resonated with me especially in context to the Fighting Cholitas. These women lead complex lives but chose to fight the good fight regardless of which side they fight on in the ring.
My question for the class: What do the Fighting Cholitas represent for you?
I enjoyed reading your post, and I agree with your view of the Cholitas. They challenge patriarchy because they show women’s place is wherever they want. Patriarchy says they can’t fight, but there they are. So for me, they represent women that go beyond what society expects or allows them to do. I feel particularly connected to it because I wanted to fight some years ago, and I remember hearing fighting was not for women. But I decided to go anyways because I know only we decide what is best for us. I know fighting is often negative because it is violent. But it made me feel connected to my body in ways I never had before. It made me feel powerful and in control. We need this. Women are not encouraged the same way as men to practice sports, but they should be. Sports help us gain confidence in ourselves, in what we can do.
For me, the Cholitas represents this idea of going beyond the patriarchal limits imposed on women.