A Cuban resident in Italy, Rose Mary Ortega (@rose.mary.ort), published a video on TikTok that became a passionate defense of Cuban women who have emigrated, in response to a man who referred to a Cuban woman as a "jinetera" on his profile.
Ortega was direct from the very beginning: "First, I left Cuba because of my beliefs. Second, I owe you no explanation." Although she clarified that the comment was not related to her own story, she stated that she could not ignore it because she is still Cuban and is aware of the reality of her country.
In the video, which is one minute and 31 seconds long, the content creator vividly described the situation of many women who emigrate from the island: "They do it out of fear, not knowing what awaits them on the other side, leaving behind their families, their children, their country, and even their dignity, because the desperation is so great that many risk their lives on dangerous journeys, becoming illegal in other countries, putting their lives in the hands of others just to escape from a country that slowly destroys you."
From that perspective, Ortega was emphatic in describing those who use that term as an insult: "One must be very miserable and very frustrated to use the word jinetera as an insult towards a Cuban woman, knowing all that lies behind many of those stories, because beyond disrespecting a woman, you attempt to reduce her to a prejudice."
The Cuban also directly confronted the author of the comment, who, according to her, presented himself on social media as a holder of a law degree: "I wonder how someone with a law degree can go around on social media denigrating the integrity of a woman he doesn't even know."
His message included a blunt lesson: "If your mother didn't teach you, I'll teach you: a person's dignity is untouchable, and women deserve respect."
The case of Ortega is not isolated. In December 2025, a Cuban woman in Spain responded in a similar way to comments that attacked her with the same term, stating that she had emigrated "to work honestly" and build a dignified future.
The term "jinetera" emerged in Cuba during the Special Period in the 1990s, associated with tourism and the economic crisis. Over time, it became a gendered insult that stigmatizes any Cuban woman living abroad, regardless of her personal history.
Italy is one of the main destinations for Cuban emigration, with nearly 41,448 Cubans registered up until 2018, of which 69.3% are women. Many arrived through marriage to Italian citizens, which historically placed them in situations of legal and economic dependency. In 2026, several Cuban content creators in Italy have starred in videos denouncing dynamics of abuse, discrimination, and stigmatization.
Ortega concluded his video with a direct message to all Cuban women who emigrate and move forward as best they can: "Walk with your head held high and do not allow yourselves to be humiliated, because respect is above all."
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