MUJERES y SALSA

March 8th was International Women's Day. Some people argue that, at least in the US, women are considered equal to men. I agree to a certain degree. I've never felt discriminated against personally in any of my ambitions for being a woman. On the other hand, if I think, what if I'd been born a boy, I think my life would've been very different. Partly for obvious physical differences and partly because I would've been socialized differently to be 'manly', which can mean things as basic as how I walk and talk to what kind of sports or even jobs I consider good for me. In the past the socialized differences would have been even greater. So I think it is important to appreciate women who broke social barriers and have made it easier to imagine women being accepted in all sorts of different roles.
I went to a talk about women in salsa this week. Salsa music is mainly dominated by male musicians and singers and the dance is led by the man. However, below are some links to youtube videos of some pioneering women who decided to make their careers making great salsa music despite pressures from their families and societies that the music scene, especially touring, was not for women.

Anacaona - one of the first all women son/jazz bands, comprised of 11 Cuban sisters and other women: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvjdJw1Aj10

Myrta Silva - Puertorican singer who became known as the queen of salsa before Celia Cruz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0E2N2zPfX0

Celia Cruz - even if you aren't a huge salsa fan, you probably have been infected at some point by the power of her energy and voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH47G8UNxIg&feature=related

La Lupe - one of the most dynamic and controversial salsa singers, she was kicked out of Castro's Cuba, met up and worked with Tito Puentes for a little while in New York, but no one could control her, she had her own style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmcUg3GsF0


There are of course many many more amazing women in salsa but these are some of the first who helped change the façade of the man's world of salsa to embrace the power of the feminine spirit.