What/Who:

Barbara Martinez Jitner, inspiration behind the Jennifer Lopez movie “Bordertown,” will speak at Webster University on “Femicide at Our U.S. Border: To Be a Woman in Juarez is a Death Sentence”. The real life hero of "Bordertown," Martinez Jitner posed as a factory worker on the U.S./Mexico border in order to uncover a dark world of grueling poverty and sexual abuse that lead to murder. The film was inspired by Martinez Jitner’s critically acclaimed documentary, "La Frontera."

Barbara Martinez Jitner’s lecture, “Femicide at Our U.S. Border: To Be a Woman in Juarez is a Death Sentence,” gives a moving and personal look at the crippling poverty and gender discrimination only 50 yards away from the United States.  The border town of Juarez, Mexico has been nicknamed “The Capital of Murdered Women” because more than 400 women have been found raped, mutilated and murdered. 

Almost of all of these women worked in American owned factories, all created by NAFTA.  Martinez Jitner’s lecture will touch on how NAFTA’s “expendable workforce” has turned into a workforce of expendable human beings.

Barbara Martinez Jitner is one of the first Latina executive producers of a primetime network television series. The Emmy nominated "American Family" made history when it debuted in 2002 as the first Latino drama on broadcast television.  She is also the first Latina ever to be nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Emmy as an executive producer/writer/director for a miniseries, which she received for "American Family."  She has also worked on major films including "Selena" and "Why Do Fools Fall in Love."

When:

Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 7 p.m.
Will include a screening of "La Frontera," discussion and Q&A

Where:

University Center, Sunnen Lounge, Webster University
175 Edgar Rd.

Cost:

Free and open to the public – Seating available on a first come/first serve basis

More Info:

Niki Femmer
314-246-7596
femmenic@webster.edu

Sponsors:

Webster University Multicultural Center

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