Breaking Barriers: Meet Hondzonot’s Inspiring Mestiza Devils

In the small community of Hondzonot, a unique women's softball team named the Mestiza Devils is breaking social norms. Fabiola May Chulim, one of the team's founders, recalls the early days seven years ago when they first began playing a rudimentary form of baseball. Using makeshift balls and wooden sticks, they faced insults and calls to return home to their families.

The team's inception was during a local tournament where the prize was 1,500 pesos. Over time, the women organized and requested a coach from local authorities. They began practicing softball, often in dresses and barefoot, as they found it most comfortable.

"There were two teams initially, but we didn't play softball. We played something more like baseball, using tennis balls and wooden sticks on a small community field," Fabiola explained. "We decided to unite and form a formal team. We chose the name 'Devils' because we were seen as the 'bosses of the town', the women who didn't obey their husbands, the ones who ventured out on the streets."

The team members face social stigma for being women in sports, along with the challenge of balancing family responsibilities and training. "Initially, people only criticized and insulted us. But we persisted, and eventually, they saw that we could indeed play," Fabiola pointed out.

Now, there are two women's softball teams in Hondzonot, and women from neighboring communities are starting to form their own teams. "It's a source of pride to see more women playing than men every Saturday. We're breaking down gender stereotypes and showing that women can also go out, have fun, and succeed," Fabiola said.

Fabiola's team, which consists of 18 women, also trains girls aged 8 to 12 years old. They hope to form a youth team that competes in local leagues and beyond. "Girls also have the right to dream. We want them to grow up knowing that they can achieve anything they set their minds to," Fabiola stated.

Fabiola, the youngest of 12 siblings and all baseball players, temporarily retired due to pregnancy but returned to the field with renewed enthusiasm after the birth of her daughter. She believes that their participation in the sport is a fight against gender stereotypes in their communities and a form of women's empowerment.

"We are women who are making a difference. Here, we all shine, every team. It's important to recognize the many women here playing softball, fighting against gender stereotypes," she concluded.