Purepecha plateau of Michoacán, Mexico. This area is, for the most part, inhabited by women, children and the elderly since most of the region's males have immigrated to the United States. The women not only bear the burden of the care and education of their children, younger siblings and older relatives, but are also responsible for ensuring that their towns' 20-liter water cisterns are kept filled.
Women of all ages walk several kilometers, two or three times a day, to the naturally occurring water sources at the edge of town to fill and refill their water plastic jugs.
Despite these shortages and hardships, the women of the Purépecha plateau face their harsh reality with great dignity. They are an inspirational example of humility and strength of spirit. Although their region is not representative of "progress" in the vulgar neo-liberal sense of the word, there is a great and incomparable sense of human dignity present. Personally, I prefer to see the Purépecha women living in this context -- their context -- than as servants in the country's urban areas.