Do you know what’s an essential part of Latin America? It’s not as frequently advertised as football or its breath-taking natural ecosystem like the unique Amazon rainforest. But it’s just as special: the incredibly strong, and powerful women of Latin America.

When talking about strong Latin women, we especially look at Argentina, the 2nd largest country in Latin America. The country is religious, mainly Christian, which has a role in the everyday life of people. Abortion in most Latin American countries is illegal, including Argentina.

Bad hair day?
I was walking on the streets of Buenos Aires, close to completing my 3 months, 5 countries solo travel trip in Latin America. I was getting unusual looks, rather unfriendly, unhospitable ones. I was thinking ‘What is wrong?  Do I have a bad hair day? Do I look bad, or do people just don’t like me today?’ Well, let me tell you it was nothing like that.

Green or blue?
I only found out what was wrong by the time I was on a bus to San Carlos de Bariloche. The bus ride was over 20 hours, and I happened to sit next to a rather friendly local girl, who was heading to Bariloche to see family. “I’m also part of the green wave, love it,” she said in Spanish. I didn’t understand what wave she is talking about, but I asked, and only then I realised I was wearing a green bandana over my head the whole time.

Green or blue? This was the question that separated opinions nationwide. This topic got the country’s population divided into 2 groups. The green stand “For Choice”, the right for abortion. Blue is “For Life” as in against making abortion legal. It wasn’t unusual for women to go to jail when they had an abortion. Abortions happened undetected, at home, and not handled by professionals. As a result, many got infections, lifelong health issues, and unfortunately, many of these women died.

Green wave
I only found out what was wrong by the time I was on a bus to San Carlos de Bariloche. The bus ride was over 20 hours, and I happened to sit next to a rather friendly local girl, who was heading to Bariloche to see family. “I’m also part of the green wave, love it,” she said in Spanish. I didn’t understand what wave she is talking about, but I asked, and only then I realised I was wearing a green bandana over my head the whole time.

In 2019, millions of women went out in the streets of Buenos Aires creating the so-called green wave.  Strong, civil, local women called for change. A change that was long coming. Change to bring back power into the hands of women about their own bodies and lifespan. Change, that could not have happened without all the sleepless nights on the streets and the persistent, united calls for it.

That bandana was the reason for all the looks and unusual attention I got. The girl educated me about the local situation. Women all over Argentina were wearing green and blue according to their beliefs. She was religious but stood by the green movement since “woman’s health should never be up to religion or believes, it should be a right”.

I learned a lot by the end of the 20 hours, and getting off the bus I was very proud to wear my green bandana on my head.

Legal, and free
At the end of December 2020, the bill finally passed, and the new headline became: “Abortion safe, legal and free is law”, by the Argentine President Alberto Fernandez. The real reason for celebration is the powerful united female action that proves once again that change is possible. The women of Argentina showed an enormous amount of strength, and community and became a showcase for women all around the world.

I followed the movement after my trip ended and later on, I learned, abortion finally became legal. It felt like a victory. Even though I only contributed with a bandana. It is a victory for so many women in Argentina, who can now have safe access to abortion by law.

By: Anett Kis, student International Social Work