Women occupy leadership roles in Mexican drug cartels

Arturo Santamaría, researcher at the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, has written a book that reveals women are increasingly moving into leadership positions within Mexican drug cartels, according to Noticias 24. Because death statistics among men in drug-related incidents have risen over recent years, women have been given greater opportunity to fill roles formerly reserved for men. Santamaría’s book includes testimonies and interviews with women that worked as “narcas.” Drug-trafficking organizations have frequently used children and minors for their operations. Many women have grown up in an environment that tolerates and encourages the drug-trade culture, making official participation nothing extraordinary for those who have become narcas. Santamaría claims women narcas are typically more selective when it comes to the use of force, causing them to act more deliberately and cautiously. However, women have the burden of proving their capabilities and worth in order to succeed in this field. Read Article