The election, slated for October, could see at least two women on the ballot. Dilma Rousseff, of the governing Workers’ Party (PT), has the better shot at winning. She is currently chief of staff for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is barred from seeking a third four-year term. The other female contestant is Marina Silva, a former environment minister who broke away from the PT.

A woman at the helm of the largest country and economy in Latin America would be a breakthrough for women politicians across the region. Already, in the past four years, two South American women have led their countries: President Michelle Bachelet of Chile and President Cristina Elizabet Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina. And though Ms. Rousseff is polling behind her closest male competitor, the race is being viewed as a boost to women’s rights in Latin America.

Chile’s outgoing President Bachelet was elected in 2006, and the following year, Ms.Fernández de Kirchner won the presidency in Argentina. Their victories come as female representation overall has increased in the region, with women constituting about 25 percent of ministerial cabinets, according to a study published in 2008 by various institutions including the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.

In Latin America’s legislatures, women’s representation increased by 35 percent from 2000 to 2008, according to the study. (Women made up only 16 percent of the US Congress in 2008.)

FULL STORY

The movie “Avatar,” came away with multiple Oscar nominations this month. Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa explores Native-American themes within the film with University of Texas at Austin professor Angela Valenzuela and Native-American journalist Kara Briggs.

Kara Briggs is a Yakama and Snohomish journalist and directs Red Hummingbird Media based in Tulalip, Washington.

Angela Valenzuela is a professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin.

The role of Jack Sculley (Sam Worthington) in the sci-fi action film 'Avatar' is a 'messianic' figure.

Actress Zoë Saldaña plays Neytiri, a role compared to Pocahontas.

And the native connections of the Na’vi to their indigenous environment have focused on Native-American issues of colonialism, conquest, and cultural preservation.

To explore these issues more closely Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa speaks with Native-American and Latina writers.

Kara Briggs

Angela Valenzuela

Angela Valenzuela is an education professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of several books and articles about Latinos, Latinas and education.