When in Feminine, Revolution Becomes Vandalism. The Glitter Revolution and the Struggle for Memory

Abstract

In this article, I analyze the Glitter Revolution. By Glitter Revolution, I refer to two feminist mobilizations that took place in Mexico City in August 2019. Both manifestations aimed to denounce the alarming increase in gender violence and femicides nationwide. I will focus on the interventions (graffiti pints) that the feminists made on the monument El Ángel de la Independencia as a form of denounce. I will also reflect upon the media reactions on these interventions. I argue that these interventions were an attempt by feminist collectives to (re)appropriate the historical narrative that materializes in the monument of the Angel. On the other hand, the reactions in the media and social networks show the gender inequalities that are predominant in the Mexican collective memory. For this analysis, I will resort to documentary sources, mainly the press and forums on social media, where the public debate about the interventions.