The Topic of Women’s Rights in Julia Alvarez’s in The Time of The Butterflies

“She is plucking the Bird of paradise of its dead branches, leaning around the plant every time she hears a car”. This is the opening line to Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies within her book; Alvarez addresses many themes throughout the book, ranging from family and education to democracy. However, among these themes there is one that is the most prominent, and one that will relate to the modern world as well, is that of women's rights. This is brought up time and time again in the plot, whether it is in terms of education or polygamy. As the father of Minerva says, 'Trujillo got many girlfriends, set up in big, fancy homes'. It was not unusual for rich men to have multiple wives and girlfriends during this time period and Trujillo was a classic example. This issue still persists today, which only helps to increase gender roles and the disparity between men and women. The Mirabal sisters, and their battle against the government, not only challenged the tyranny but also the social constructions that still prevail today. In fact, Alvarez demonstrates the need to train or educate women, whether it is in the mid-1900s or today. For example the mother of the sister’s herself 'can not even read', stressing the low rate of women's literacy in Latin America. But the Mirabal sisters are expected to avoid this and hopefully start a new generation of women that believe that they can be educated and live important lives. As each of the Mirabal sisters get a college degree; which for a woman during that time is an unusual accomplishment. Such challenges tend to be common today, with women in many third world countries having fewer resources for sufficient education than men. Although Alvarez explores many themes In the Time of the Butterflies, the topic of women’s rights is the most compelling one and the most specific to the present day.

The views of Alvarez about the rights of women can also be seen in her various interviews and articles which show her definitive ideas about the development of women, in particular in third world countries such as Latin America. Colón presents a full interview with Alvarez and discusses with Alvarez multiple views on the multifaceted issue of women's rights in the essay 'Julia Alvarez: Importance to Women in a Male-driven Culture' by Devina Colón. The lack of education will have a detrimental effect both on men and women on a country's well-being for current and future generations. This is why Alvarez strives extensively to stress the value of education for all, regardless of their gender. Throughout the interview Alvarez speaks about these views, while In Time of the Butterflies shows similar points of view. Alvarez, for example, states throughout the interview conducted with Devina Colón that in Trujillo's law the reading was viewed as 'subversive' while marking you as a 'disruptor'. These references frequently underline Alvarez's ideas throughout the entire book. In “In the Time of the Butterflies, Alvarez suggests that most people in the Dominican Republic see politics as 'women should not be active' in the Dominican Republic in the mid-1900s. Alvarez points out, while saying that females must not partake in politics, that women should be taught or educated, to shed light and give them a voice on a very popular opinion of people living in the Dominican Republic. These two roots of Julia Alvarez’s texts reveal one of the central themes of women's rights In Time of the Butterflies. She also underlines the same concerns in her interview with Devina Colón, as Alvarez highlights the importance of women's rights in her book. Moreover, Alvarez explained in her interview that only a very small amount of schooling was allowed for women and was 'manipulated by the Trujillo system'. Trujillo would do everything to make sure nobody came to his throne, one of which was to reduce schooling and to exploit the educational system. Trujillo was able to brainwash an entire country's minds by using manipulation or outright lies, and this started at school at an early age. Trujillo made it even more difficult for women to get into university and live for themselves in a country where education for women was already restricted and minimized. Women were supposed to 'follow their spouses' in the Dominican Republic.

Alverez seeks, through her Moment with Devin Colon and In the Time of the Butterflies to try and combat the gender gap in Latin American countries. For when women joined the battle against Trujillo, he saw holes in his power. Through Alvarez’s story and articles about women’s rights; it is prevalent that women have the opportunity to do anything no matter the circumstances they live in. The challenges found in other countries and around the world seem to blind you to a highly industrialized country like the United States and especially to a very metropolitan area like Austin. While we do not have these issues in the United States, it is important to recognize these challenges that countless people around the world face. After reading In the Time of Butterflies, the question emerges as to whether or not there still remain the problems that existed in the Dominican Republic in the middle of the 1900s. Beatrice Edwards addresses that very question in the article 'Women, jobs and democracy.' Even now, Latin American countries face these issues. Male hegemony and male dominance are especially prevalent in third-world countries like those in Latin America. Women have far fewer rights in countries like these and therefore are limited to very little resources. According to Edwards, 'man's superiority is an important cultural aspect' in Latin American society. Male superiority still exists today as an issue. Since male dominance in the United States and in particular Austin is not so prevalent, most people say there is none. However, women are constantly marginalized in many third world countries, particularly in Latin America, giving them fewer resources, seriously undermining a country's prosperity and growth. This point is made abundantly clear by Julia Alvarez in her book. An example is a rather misogynistic female who is called a 'senator's wife' by one of the main antagonists of the book.

In emphasizing the chauvinism of the central tyrant of the regime, Rafael Trujillo, Alvarez will illuminate the tremendous injustice faced by women in the middle of the 1900s in the Dominican Republic. In addition, policy for women too, even today, is very tight. The definition of 'democracy is limited' to women as Edwards describes. Politics and independence are commonly regarded solely for men in most Latin American societies. Women are generally limited to family and household life, whereas men make money and work in politics. As a result in most of these countries women do not typically have voting rights and they lack many of the advantages of democracy. This notion is shown even in the novel of Alvarez, one of the Mirabal sisters, Albeit the non-revolter, said she found political affairs 'as something for men'. This view of female participation in society was shared in this period and still today by most people. Because of the idea of masculine rule that has spread across generations in Latin American society, many women in those countries can not take part in democratic acts, such as office-running or simply voting. The women are prevented from taking action that would not only be beneficial to women worldwide but also to the country in which they live. Through the use of the analysis of In the Time of the Butterflies and Beatrice Edwards, it is clear that Alvarez suggests that supporting the role of women in society and politics is advantageous to not only women but the entirety of society.

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, she shows the numerous hidden living facets of a Latin American family in the mid-19th century. She also discusses many of the hidden secrets of the Dominican Republic's dictator Rafael Trujillo. Alvarez discusses various topics, ranging from families, education, and democracy. Nevertheless, the issue of gender equality remains one of the most compelling and desirable in the modern world. As the issue is still not completely resolved today. The book is seen as an inspiration for women around the world by portraying the main characters of the book as women. By stressing that sisters are willing to 'defend their husbands” when standing up to one of the most tyrannical leaders in modern history, it is revealed that women around the world will both protect their families and trust and believe in them. A similar view is offered in a Goodreads review of the book, which says that 'courage and sisterhood' are a tale In the Time of the Butterflies. By combining family and innovative lives into a single narrative, Alvarez creates a book that will inspire girls and women of future generations.