Las Mujeres Indígenas Podemos Salir Adelante: Retratos Y Relatos de Mujeres Indígenas Universitarias

In recent years, in Ecuador there has been talk of equality between women and men of all cultures and nationalities. However, the situation of inequality persists: women continue to be marginalized, their rights are violated and they have few opportunities to study. This is the case of many indigenous women from rural contexts in the central and northern highlands of Ecuador. Graduates of the Intercultural Bilingual Education program at the Salesian Polytechnic University tell us how they struggled to study and obtain their third level degree. According to them, it has been very difficult for them to get an education because of their condition as women and indigenous people, as mothers, and because of the poverty and exclusion in which they lived. In addition, because of these same conditions, they have been exposed to discrimination, not only racial but also gender discrimination. For them, the Intercultural Bilingual Education Career was an opportunity in their path, which opened the possibility of pursuing higher education and obtaining a degree as educators in order to contribute to their families and communities. Despite the difficulties, they were able to fulfill their dream of becoming professionals. Today they are women who lead in their communities, they are teachers who lead in their communities, they are teachers who are involved in intercultural bilingual education and in the education of indigenous children and youth. They have become an example for the community and the family.