ENCOUNTERING CULTURAL INJUSTICE IN THE ANDES

Unified once again, we embarked on an expedition through the great mountains of the Andes in a caravan. Manual cars and excellent local drivers. We stomached the twists and turns of the cliffside road, with the horn as our fire of Gondor. The long journey, an hour and a half, passed, and with the rugged silhouettes of the mountains imprinted in our memory, we arrived in the village of Sullumayo.

We experienced a warm welcome by the wonderful women, men, and children. One by one, the women and children enlightened us to their daily tribulations and their aspirations. One woman, in the melodious Quechuan language, told us her tale of how her kids trek two hours a day to attend school. How she wanted her kids to be professors, lawyers and doctors. We, in turn, shared our own experiences of how we arrive to school in a comfort that is not mutual.

Students and villagers mingled, united, if just for a moment, by the universal language of song and dance. We then split up into groups and were tasked with categorizing which household chores fell upon ‘hombres’, ‘mujeres’ or ‘hombres y mujeres’. Unfortunately, some misogynistic bias shone through and male responsibility was nearly null, leaving the woman as the sole pillar of familial responsibility. The misogyny did not end there, as we soon learned that it is not even common for many women to have a favorite color, play sports, or laugh. The reformist group of social workers from the valley of Huaro is working to expose these biases and advocate for change through education and awareness.

On a different note, we ventured into the oppressive heat of the greenhouses. We were directed by a master farmer to strip the land of weeds and plant the rose-colored seeds of the cucumber as by his example. Following our labor, the villagers and Regis Jesuit retinue reconvened to enjoy a delicious, hearty snack, consisting of chicha (a local corn drink) and alpaca burgers.

As we ate, we were audience to a viewing of festivals and games. The men, who had previously been considered above familial responsibility, were set upon the quest of self-exploration to the responsibilities aforementioned: they competed in a relay race of swaddling babies, hanging laundry, peeling potatoes, and changing diapers. Sirs Aluinn, Samuel, Anthony, and Maximus truly embraced the rise of this new ideal, competing at the highest level to the amusement and enjoyment of the Sullumayo women. These festivities played a huge part in exposing the deep-rooted cultural injustice that these women experience every day.

As we bid our farewells, we were sequestered into seven different carriages in preparation for the strenuous journey home. Nonetheless, our minds were all on the same thing: the women of Sullumayo. A lot of us were troubled by some of the things we heard and saw. Will our presence inspire change in the community, or will it and our teaching exacerbate the issue?

All we can ask from you is that you pray for these women and their households. That their community can overcome the barriers that currently pervade their society and come to embrace Christ-like love.