Women played an important role in the Mexican Revolution, which began approximately in 1910 under the reign of Porfirio Diaz, considered a dictator by many historians, who ruled Mexico with iron for first for about 26 years. Under his ferocious dictatorship, women of all classes did not fare well. In Diaz's Mexico, wealthier women had access to education, but could only use it to become respectable matriarchs of their families, work for the church, or become teachers. Middle-class women were relegated to vocational schools and taught job-specific skills, which did not include academics. The poorest women were treated by society with complete indifference and found opportunities only as domestic servants, market workers or prostitutes. The 1884 constitution limited women's rights. For example, it did not even define citizenship for women “and by law women without citizenship could not vote” (Ibid.10.). Suffrage was obviously extremely important, but the lack of the fundamental right of citizenship was a more immediate problem. Without citizenship, women had to depend on the men in their lives for everything. “According to the Civil Code of 1884, married women could not enter into contracts, sell goods, or provide for the education of their children” (Op Cit.). Without citizenship rights, women could not lead an independent existence. This article will explore why, for women of all stripes, the revolution against Diaz has become a popular cause. It will also explore how various groups of women worked for the revolutionary forces, why women of all classes were disappointed by their lack of progress, and how these groups of women were very separated from each other. Finally, it will explore the post-revolutionary lives of women in Mexico. To provide a little background...... middle of paper... merciless description. Another criticism came from a New York Times article from June 16, 1920. Essentially the article considered what it would take to create a stable administration and a well-trained Mexican army. The author wrote: "The new president will need a compact, well-uniformed and well-educated army, a commissary department to care for the women who now cook and patch for the anonymous men who carry rifles" (SOURCE). Later in the article it also states: "And the 'little soldiers,' or female camp followers... should be divorced from the army: a major change in the country's customs, but imperative" (SOURCE). Clearly, the Mexican military was despised for including women in its military operations. This reporter appears to have echoed the opinion of Americans at the time that women and children were slowing down and distracting the army.