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Just Go: Three Generations of Women Breaking Barriers

Produced by Desiree Cousineau
Translation by Denise Dosta

Eréndira María Esther Robledo Tapia’s family is deeply rooted. But the tradition in her family for three generations defies expectations. Esther’s family tradition is one of breaking tradition.

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Esther Robledo is a woman who has been in the middle of the shift of thinking of Mexican woman. Before, woman needed to get married young and stay at home all day. Now at 57-years-old she takes photography, folkloric dance, and writing classes. She teaches English and literature classes. She also contributes to the newspaper in Tenancingo.

Esther joins her photography class on an outdoor expedition. She says she likes to learn new things, always be on the move and overcome the traditional stereotypes of being a woman. “I don’t lock myself up at home,” Esther says.

Esther writes for a local newspaper and teaches English and literature. When she decided to get married, she made one condition that her husbands not interfere with her work. When he died seven years ago, Esther’s jobs supported her daughters through school.

Esther, whose mother was cloistered as a young woman, has an insatiable appetite for learning. Her folk dance class is her passion.

Esther’s pays great attention to every detail in preparing for her dance performance.

Esther prepares for a dance performance in her home.

The women of Esther’s folk dance classes perform as often as they can.

Esther attends a “signing” ceremony in Toluca to commemorate her daughter’s university graduation in engineering from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. Esther, a single mother, encourages her daughter to find a career that will give her independence.

Esther shares dinner preparations with her daughter. “We first have to be aware of our value as individuals and as women in order to realize what we want in this life,” Esther says. “I believe that you have to enjoy whatever you do and do it well.”