Cholita Wrestling

In the heart of El Alto, Bolivia, indigenous women are tearing down stereotypes and taking a stand against domestic violence, all the while putting on a both theatrical and athletic fighting performance, that is sure to leave the crowds cheering. In a cholita wrestling match there are usually two participants-one good, clean fighting técnica and one evil ruda who stretches rules and pushes boundaries. Cholita wrestling matches are staged, meaning the results of the match are decided before they begin, however this does not mean they are not aggressive, headlocks, hair pulling, punching, and kicking are typically used by both opponents. Fights generally last 2-3 hours in which an impressive array of acrobatics and somersaulting are displayed. Additionally, some Cholita wrestlers inject humorous elements into their performances like pursuing each other through the crowd, and stealing drinks and kisses as they pass by viewers. While Cholita wrestling is known for being a humorous performance, the history and true purpose of it is quite the contrary. Throughout history, indigenous women in Bolivia faced much oppression, and terms like ‘cholo’ or ‘chola’ were often used to demean them. Overtime, indigenous women gained more rights and freedoms however domestic violence towards them was still extremely prevent, so much so that in July 2019 a Bolivian news reporter observed that 73 femicides (the killing of a woman by a man due to their gender) had occurred in the first half of the year alone, summing up to one killing every two days. Cholita wrestling came about when a small group of women in El Alto began gathering regularly to relieve stress and restore a sense of empowerment amongst domestic violence victims by practicing their own version of the infamous Lucha Libre wrestling, which had been a hit across Latin America during the mid 20th century. After some time the group was recognized by a promoter at the Titanes del Ring league, who thought Cholita wrestling may help boost ticket sales and earn money for the organization. What the league didn't know was just how popular Cholita wrestling would soon become. When the Cholita wrestler first began performing they wore tight spandex attire similar to Lucha Libre and followed most of the same constructs as well. As the sport evolved, however, the Cholita’s began to create their own spin on things dressing in traditional indigenous wear like multi-layered skirts over colorful petticoats known as La Pollera, shawls, and having long plaited hair in the back. Additionally, the Cholita’s began to embrace the terms ‘cholo’ and ‘chola’ that were once used to shame them as a sense of pride. Today, Cholita wrestling is an inspiration and a call to action for all indigenous women across Bolivia to take a stand against the machismo culture and domestic violence and to stand up for their rights.