From a very young age, I began questioning gender roles within my family. As the first woman in my family to attend university, many deeply ingrained practices became more evident to me. It is often mistakenly believed that Indigenous communities are matriarchal. While women play significant social and cultural roles, many traditions and customs are designed to ensure that men make the most important decisions within the community. As a result, many women lack a voice, as it is constantly censored or invalidated. Women from the clouds is a window into the women of my family lineage and my network of support—a space that amplifies the universal desires of women, rights that, in this day and age, should not be limited by beliefs or traditions. Another key aspect of this project is portraying women who, unknowingly, have chosen to navigate these deeply patriarchal spaces on their own, breaking stereotypes of femininity and creating new possibilities of womanhood in a society that, even today, continues to fight for gender equality.
-Luvia Lazo
-Luvia Lazo
