The Escaramuza Girls Of Jurupa Valley

Escaramuza is translated to 'skirmish' in English. Soldadas (female soldiers), would ride with the men acting as decoys on the battlefield, performing intricate skills on horseback. In 1953, women were officially allowed to compete in Charreria (Mexican Rodeos), which was also the year that women gained the right to vote in Mexico. The roots between the charreada and rodeo run deep; equally deep are the symbolic roots that tie modern-day escaramuza charra to the soldiers of the Mexican Revolution, those women who assisted in the revolt against oppressive Mexican government forces.