Three sisters stood against the test of time and toppled one of the most brutal dictatorships of history to awaken the world to the ‘violence against women gradually’. Patria, Minerva and Maria, the famous Mirabal sisters, were born into a prosperous family and could have lived a normal happy life, but the sisters chose to fight against the oppression and human rights abuse under Trujillo’s authoritarian regime. As activists, they fearlessly and fiercely spoke against gender-based violence and state-sponsored oppression.
Rafael Trujillo is responsible for the horrific Parsley Massacre in 1937 also know an El Corte killing around 30,000 Haitian people living in the Dominican Republic. This ethnic cleansing was based on the Haitian’s ability to pronounce the Spanish word parsley (perejil),
People who could not pronounce it correctly were executed; it was believed that Haitians could not speak Spanish fluently. The ‘parsley test,’ as it became commonly called, shocked the world with its utter brutality as the victims were killed with matchets.
It is against this totalitarian regime, the ‘Era of Trujillo’ characterized by extreme brutality, repression and the pervasive culture of fear, widespread human rights abuses, systematic targeting of political opponents where dissent was met with severe punishment, imprisonment, torture, and assassination, that Mirabal sisters rose up, resisted, and revolted.
Social justice and equality were fundamental principles upon which the sisters’ advocacy was based. They were part of the 14th of June Movement that attempted to depose Trujillo’s government. They organized protest movements, distributed anti-government literature and mobilized public support. Minerva was specially known for her stormy speeches and marshaling a popular movement against Trujillo. The sisters continually faced persecution, harassment, intimidation by the secret police but refused to give up or be silenced. After the failed assassination attempt on Trujillo in 1959, sisters were arrested and imprisoned but had to be released due to international pressure. While the sisters continued their movement leading at the helm, their growing influence and relentless resistance became a potent threat to Trujillo’s consolidation of power. As the sisters came to be recognized as symbolic power of women fighting against tyranny garnering international support, Trujillo conspired the tragic assassination of the sisters. On November 25, 1960, when the sisters were returning after visiting their imprisoned husbands, they were ambushed by Trujillo’s henchmen and brutally killed. The death was staged to appear like an accident but the truth couldn’t be hidden for long. It led to widespread global outrage and intensified the movement against Trujillo within Dominican Republic. The tragic death of the sisters made them national heroes and martyrs and became a rallying point of protest against Trujillo leading to his subsequent downfall and death, it also brought to the global attention, the extreme violence that women face who dare to speak out against the status quo.
Patria Mirabal was the eldest sister, deeply religious and politically reluctant. Her activism was fueled by her faith and the injustice of the fellow citizens under Trujillo’s regime. She transformed from a devoted mother and wife to a fierce advocate for freedom exemplifying the personal sacrifices made by women in the struggle against tyranny.Known for her intellect and determination, Minerva Mirabal was arguably the most politically engaged of all the sisters. As a symbol of feminist resistance in Dominican Republic, she remained the backbone of the 14th of June Movement to depose Trujillo. Despite the persecution , she remained resolute in her mission and struggle against oppression. The third sister and the youngest one Maria Teresa Mirabal was less politically inclined initially but in support of her sisters’ struggle and suffering, she too channelised all her youthful energy into the common cause.
The three sisters gained the epithet of “ Las Mariposas” (the butterflies) which symbolises their beauty, innocence and resilience. It is rooted in their commitment of fighting for justice and freedom. The metaphor is indicative of the sisters and the state emerging from the cocoon of oppression to the state of freedom and empowerment. It also reflects the sisters journey from being ordinary women to political activist and catalyst of change. It further underscores , the fragility and vulnerability of butterflies as the sisters had to give up their lives in their pursuit of liberty and justice.
Julia Alvarez in her award winning novel In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) fictionalizes their lives and struggles. The success of the novel has played a crucial role in memorialising the Mirabal sisters and preserving their legacy. It has also been instrumental in various commemorative efforts within Dominican Republic which includes the setting up of Casa Museo Hermanas Mirabal. As a memorial site to the sisters, the place is indispensable in integrating the sister’s story of sacrifice with the collective memory of Dominican people. Dede, the fourth and only surviving sister who did not join the movement due to fear and familial responsibilities redeems herself after the death of mariposas and dedicates herself to tell the tale of courage and sacrifice through ‘story telling’ in continuing the fight against the gender based violence. Julia Alvarez uses Dede’s character through which the story of Mirabal sisters unravels. She becomes a lens through which Alvarez explores the complexities of resistance , familial loyalty, and terrible consequences of political engagement for women. Dede depicts the struggle of a woman to reconcile her desire for justice with fear for her family’s safety.
Mirabel sisters have left an indelible mark in the history of Dominican Republic and global struggle against women’s rights. In 1999, the United Nations’ designated November 25 , the anniversary of Mirabal sister’s death as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, acknowledging their sacrifice and legacy and emphasizing the ongoing fight against gender-based violence and the necessity of protecting women’s rights worldwide. The Mirabal sisters’ story needs to be retold today more than ever ,to bring in the systemic reforms and inspire women all over the world to stand up against all forms of oppression as we celebrate 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence beginning from 25th November till 10th December fighting to end all Violence Against Women.
Dr Amina Hussain is an Assistant Professor at Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University.
