La Adelita

The ballad was inspired by Adela Velarde Pérez, a Chihuahuense woman who joined the Maderista movement in the early stages of the revolution and fell in love with Madero.

It has also been argued that "'La Adelita' expressed the sensitivity and vulnerability of men, emphasizing the stoicism of the rebellious male soldier as he confronts the prospect of death".

[2] In another interpretation, the feminist scholar María Herrara-Sobek argues, "Adelita's bravery and revolutionary spirit are lost to the fatalism and insecurities of male soldiers who are focused on passions, love, and desire as they face combat".

[2] The song "La Adelita" depicts the brave women who fought and traveled with the Federales and the revolutionary army.

[4] Finally, some women were left with no choice, like Angela Jimenez, who at the age of fifteen had Federales search her home for rebels and try to force themselves on her sister, resulting in her death.

[4] Enraged by this experience, Jimenez started to dress as a boy and go by the name "Angel" to join her father on the rebel front lines.

[5] In addition to cooking food for the male soldiers, women in military camps also acted as spies, medical attendants, nurses, messengers, and smugglers.

[3] Specifically, soldaderas would spy in enemy camps, steal documents, and smuggle United States arms over the border into Mexico.

Female soldiers in the Mexican Revolution usually had higher social standings, while soldaderas were generally from poor, indigenous backgrounds.

[4] Because of the strict gender roles and values deeply embedded in Mexican society, some of these female fighters were not accepted back into their hometowns.

[3] Spanish:[3][6] En lo alto de la abrupta serranía acampado se encontraba un regimiento y una moza que valiente los seguía locamente enamorada del sargento.

English: On the heights of a steep mountain range a regiment was encamped, and a young woman bravely follows them, madly in love with the sergeant.