La Adelita

La Adelita,often depicted as an image of patriotism and sexuality

“La Adelita”, one of the most popular ballads of the Mexican Revolution, was first composed in honor of the heroic women who dedicated their lives to the Revolution by joining the war efforts on the battlefield.  Some sources suspect the song’s origins to be inspired by  “a Durangan woman who had joined the Maderistas movement at an early age." (7) However, the actual identity of Adelita is virtually unknown, and as a result, “La Adelita” came to represent any female soldier that contributed to the Mexican Revolution; her name became synonymous with “soldadera.”

The following lyrics are just one of the popular versions of "La Adelita":

En lo alto de la abrupta serranía acampado se encontraba un regimiento y una musa que valiente los seguía locamente enamorada del sargento.	In the heights of a steep mountainous range a regiment was encamped and a bright woman bravely follows them madly in love with the sergeant.
Popular entre la tropa era Adelita la mujer que el sargento idolatraba y además de ser valiente era bonita que hasta el mismo Coronel la respetaba.	Popular among the troop was Adelita the woman that the sergeant idolized and besides of being pretty she was brave that even the Colonel respected her.
Y se oía, que decía, aquel que tanto la quería: Y si Adelita quisiera ser mi novia y si Adelita fuera mi mujer le compraría un vestido de seda para llevarla a bailar al cuartel.	And it was heard, that he, who loved her so much, said: If Adelita would like to be my girlfriend If Adelita would be my wife I'd buy her a silk dress to take her dance to the quarter.
Y si Adelita se fuera con otro la seguiría por tierra y por mar si por mar en un buque de guerra si por tierra en un tren militar.	If Adelita would leave with another man I'd follow her by land and sea by sea in a war ship by land in a military train. (8)

     As described in the lyrics, Adelita was characterized as a softer version of the female soldier, the sweetheart of the troupe who was neither vulgar nor ruthless. (9) Those who sang of her legend “did not focus on her valor, bur rather on her beauty, desirability, and loyalty." (10) Though there are different interpretations and versions of Adelita, she is for the most part represented as a symbol of love in war. This romanticized version of the soldaderas attributes to their roles as potential lovers or wives of the soldiers in the Mexican Revolution.   

     Though Adelita’s story first began in ballad form, her legend was not confined to this medium, rather she also became a popular figure in literature and modern-day films.  Today, women in both Mexico and the United States look to Adelita as a symbol of motivation and hope, a woman that struggles and fights for her rights.  Her powerful image is one that conveys feminine strength to women who draw upon her legend as a source of inspiration amidst modern-day tribulations.