Los Angeles, CA –  The ‘Me Too’ movement has been instrumental in raising awareness about sexual abuse in the workplace while empowering women, from all walks of life to speak out and take action. The movement has now extended to the agricultural fields. Farmworker Justice, a nonprofit advocacy organization, has committed to raising awareness of sexual abuse in the workplace by empowering women from all walks of life, and in particular, women farmworkers, to speak out and take action against sexual abuse. Building on their long history and expertise, Farmworker Justice, in collaboration with Lideres Campesinas de California, have produced a short training film to help farmworker communities reduce sexual violence in the fields. 

The 8-minute film, Breaking the Silence, was directed by Bel Hernandez and demonstrates the power dynamics on some farms that facilitate sexual harassment and violence, portrays a sexual assault on a California farm, and shows the assistance farmworker women’s organizations provide to prevent and remedy such violations. The short is presented in Spanish (with and without English subtitles) and Mixteco, the native language of many indigenous farmworkers.  All the actors are farmworkers.  

“When I was asked to direct the film on sexual abuse in the fields, I didn’t realize this was such a prevalent occurrence. Directing Breaking The Silence was the experience that triggered me to get more involved with farmworker issues.  I am now the Chair for the Advisory Council for Farmworker Justice and look forward to working to provide support for the challenges farmworkers face on a daily basis,” said Bel Hernandez.  

Farmworker Justice will present a special screening via Zoom of Breaking the Silence on Thursday, July 23^rd at 1:00 p.m. PT/4:00 p.m. ET. The presentation will be followed by an in-depth discussion led by, Farmworker Justice President, Bruce Goldstein; Suguet Lopez, Executive Director, Lideres Campesinas; and Breaking the Silence Director, Bel Hernandez. The screening will be attended by farmworker outreach organizations, farmworker advocacy groups, elected officials and Latinx farmworker activists who will be invited to offer opinions regarding the issue and engage in dialogue to find solutions. 

“Farmworker organizations throughout the country tell us that sexual harassment and sexual violence, especially against women, are widespread on America’s farms.  The threat of job loss, deportation, and eviction from homes and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness among victims are among the factors that lead many women to be reluctant to speak up about sexual harassment, discrimination and rape in the fields.   “Breaking the Silence can be one important tool to raise awareness about the problem and help empower farmworkers and their organizations as they seek to reduce and prevent sexual violence on America’s farms,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice.

Breaking the Silence film is only the first phase of a larger initiative developed by Farmworker Justice and Lideres Campesinas aimed at accomplishing that mission. The principal goal of the initiative is to build capacity among organizations working within farmworker communities through a variety of innovative approaches that will utilize the film, Breaking the Silence, as the foundation. The film identifies available solutions for the prevention and remedy of sexual violence in the fields and draws attention to the need for additional resources to help farmworkers implement those solutions.  The screening will also bring public attention to organizations that are taking action to empower farmworkers to reduce sexual harassment and violence.

For more information about Farmworker Justice, please visit: www.FarmworkerJustice.org

Follow Farmworker Justice on social media:

Facebook: @FarmworkerJustice

Instagram: @FarmworkerJustice

Twitter: @FarmwrkrJustice

The post Farmworker Justice Addresses Sexual Abuse In America’s Agricultural Fields first appeared on .