Since the Book of Exodus in the Bible, Women of Fire have been mentioned as those who defied the Pharaoh of Egypt to save lives, even at the risk of losing their own. This is why the term is used to describe women who are willing and prepared to help others through life’s challenges –an attitude that encompasses the best of humanity, including concepts like sisterhood, resilience, empowerment, visibility, and equality.
In Mexico, we find a recent example of a group of women also known by this name. They are indigenous women from the municipality of Cherán, in the state of Michoacán, who led a peaceful struggle against illegal loggers and “risked everything to defend their homes, their forests, and their lives.”
The progress toward equality and gender parity is the result of social movements that have developed throughout history and spans all areas of life. The tobacco industry is no exception. That is why, in recent years, the role women play –and their growing presence– has been as important as it is crucial.
They are the driving force behind the cultivation of the plant in the fields, the harvesting and treatment of the raw material, and the manufacturing and commercialization of the leaf transformed into a cigar. But beyond their hands and hearts, they are the face and intelligence of tobacco, contributing their knowledge and experience as entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners.
Breaking paradigms, they have decided not to compete with one another but to come together, organize, and pave the way for those who follow, based on cooperation, solidarity, and friendship. For all these reasons, we present this special edition commemorating International Women’s Day, a compilation of stories and portraits of some Women of Fire who are leading the growing presence of women in this industry.
