Softball team stands up against sexism in Mexico | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Indigenous women's softball team (Las Amazonas de Yoshuna)
• Mayan community of Yoshuna in Yucatan, Mexico
• Traditional Mayan dress (hipiles)
• Care work (unpaid domestic labor)
• Sexism and gender roles in the community
• Multigenerational team makeup
• Impact on family dynamics and community perceptions
• Empowerment through sports
• Recognition and social change

Main Topics and Key Points

Introduction to Las Amazonas de Yoshuna

• Las Amazonas de Yoshuna, an indigenous women's softball team in Yoshuna, Mexico, has become a symbol of their community.
• The team consists of housewives and artisans who play softball while preserving their Mayan traditions.
• They play without typical sports uniforms, wearing traditional hipiles and often barefoot.
• The team's multigenerational makeup highlights its values and impact on the community.

The Players' Daily Lives and Challenges

• The players balance their softball activities with their responsibilities as caregivers and homemakers.
• A typical day involves taking children to school, cleaning, cooking, and tending to their homes, in addition to softball practice.
• Sexism within the community has been a significant challenge for the team.
• Care work, which includes cleaning, cooking, childcare, and collecting water or fuel, is predominantly carried out by women (76% worldwide).
• Mexico has some of the highest rates of unpaid domestic labor.

Alí's Story: Overcoming Marital Obstacles

• Alí, a housewife and softball player, faced opposition from her husband when she decided to join Las Amazonas.
• Her husband initially believed that women should focus solely on caring for their home and children.
• Alí's decision to pursue softball led to a brief separation, but she ultimately chose to continue playing, which she considers the best decision.
• Playing softball has allowed Alí to travel and experience new things, which she wouldn't have dreamed of otherwise.

Anadina's Journey: From Baseball to Team Founder

• Anadina Canulp, a housewife, artisan, and softball player, plays a vital role for Las Amazonas.
• She grew up playing baseball and questioned gender roles from a young age.
• Her father believed that girls should get married and take care of their children instead of going to school.
• Anadina's passion for baseball led her to start Las Amazonas in 2017, which has helped shift attitudes in the community.
• She initiated the team through a government program that encouraged exercise, despite initial challenges like lacking equipment.

Recognition and Impact

• A video of Las Amazonas' practice went viral, leading to recognition from the Yucatan government and Major League Baseball.
• The team traveled to the US, playing a game and throwing the first pitch at an Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants game.
• Despite the recognition, Anadina emphasizes the need for social security for the nearly 2 million women doing paid domestic work in Mexico.

Game Day and Community Support

• Las Amazonas travel to PTO, a town 70 km from Yoshuna, for a game, as their home field is under construction.
• Many players bring their children to the games, sharing the experience with them.
• The team's captain, At Lai, motivates the players during the game.
• Yoshuna draws a solid crowd to their local league games, reflecting their impact and softball's growth in Mexico.
• Las Amazonas win the game, receiving recognition from their opponents.

Future Aspirations and Legacy

• Anadina hopes to coach girls and young women to continue the Las Amazonas' legacy.
• The team inspires other housewives to play sports and overcome gender stereotypes.
• The players are proud to represent Yoshuna and be fighters for their community.

Important Examples, Case Studies, or Real-World Applications Discussed

• Alí's marital challenges: Illustrates the societal pressures and gender expectations faced by women in the community.
• Anadina's personal history: Shows how her early experiences with sexism motivated her to create opportunities for women in sports.
• The viral video and MLB recognition: Demonstrates the power of media in raising awareness and providing opportunities for the team.
• Game day in PTO: Highlights the community support and the challenges of traveling with children.

Step-by-Step Processes, Methodologies, or Frameworks Explained

• Formation of Las Amazonas: Anadina's initiative to start the team through a government program, overcoming initial equipment shortages.
• Balancing work and sports: The players' daily routines of managing household chores, childcare, and softball practice.

Key Arguments or Perspectives Presented, with Their Supporting Evidence

• Women's unpaid labor is undervalued: Supported by statistics on the percentage of care work done by women and the lack of social security for domestic workers in Mexico.
• Sports can empower women and challenge gender roles: Evidenced by Alí's personal transformation and the team's impact on community attitudes.
• Community support is crucial for success: Demonstrated by the crowds at local games and the recognition from opponents.

Notable Quotes or Significant Statements with Proper Attribution

• Alí: "When I enter the fields I forget everything... my mind is only on the field catching the ball running like a deer it is something that makes me happy."
• Alí: "I felt like my life was getting away from me... I think that if I had not left my house that night I think I would not be in Lasas right now."
• Anadina: "Here in town there is a lot of sexism... my father told me that girls do not have the right to go to school they have to get married and then they will take care of their children."
• Anadina: "I feel that women work harder than men."
• Opponent: "They inspire us housewives to play this sport... we can also play sports like men."
• Player: "As long as a woman likes what she is doing anything is possible."

Technical Terms, Concepts, or Specialized Vocabulary with Brief Explanations

• Hipiles: Traditional Mayan dresses worn by the players.
• Care work: Unpaid domestic labor, including cleaning, cooking, childcare, and collecting water or fuel.

Logical Connections Between Different Sections and Ideas

• The introduction of Las Amazonas leads to a discussion of the players' daily lives and the challenges they face.
• Alí's story provides a specific example of the gender roles and marital obstacles that women in the community encounter.
• Anadina's journey explains the origins of the team and her motivation to empower women through sports.
• The recognition and impact section highlights the positive outcomes of the team's efforts, both locally and internationally.
• The game day section showcases the community support and the team's competitive spirit.
• The future aspirations section emphasizes the team's legacy and their desire to inspire future generations.

Data, Research Findings, or Statistics Mentioned

• Women carry out 76% of care work worldwide.
• Mexico has some of the most unpaid domestic labor in the world.
• Almost 2 million women doing paid domestic work in Mexico do not receive any type of social security.

Brief Synthesis/Conclusion of the Main Takeaways

Las Amazonas de Yoshuna are more than just a softball team; they are a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and cultural preservation in their Mayan community. They challenge traditional gender roles, advocate for the recognition of women's unpaid labor, and inspire future generations to pursue their dreams. Through their dedication to sports and their community, they have achieved both local and international recognition, demonstrating the power of women to overcome obstacles and create positive change.