Esther Cruz Cruz (right) and her cousin Juliana chop firewood on their land near the city of Tlacolula. Ester's five brothers live in the United States leaving Ester and her twin sister to care for her elderly parents. Ester and her sister took over her brothers jobs when they left. Ester is also a seamstress, runs a paperstore in town and is the leader of a womens group. Ester says she never wants to marry because she enjoys the freedom of being single. Immigration is empowering women to work outside of the home and changing women's social, political and economic aspirations.