Women in Cuba
Alli Cansler
As part of its commitment to constructing an egalitarian society, the Revolution of Cuba in 1959, attempted to liberate women’s bodies and sexuality. Before the Revolution, the role of most Cuban women was similar to that of other patriarchal Latin American societies where there were rigid stereotypes and a division of roles between the sexes in the home and in society. In post-Revolution Cuba, women were successfully incorporated into agricultural, industrial, and professional occupations. Today, according to the Director of Women’s Magazine, 62% of college graduates are women, 51% of workers in the sciences are women, half of Cuba’s parliament is women, and 70% of prosecutors are women. The Revolution, which has put gender issues to the forefront of policy making, has allowed major transformations in almost every aspect of the lives of Cuban women. As a result of these major transformations, the Cuban Women Federation (CWF) was developed, which serves as a mechanism of the government for the advancement of women. There are almost four million members and it is voluntary admission regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, and religion. The main focus for the Cuban Women Federation is to create a culture of equality. They advocate in health, education, media, combatting gender stereotypes, and for sexual and reproductive justice. In addition, within the last few years the Cuban Women Federation is helping the LGBTQ community in having children.
Despite the statistics and the work of the Cuban Women Federation however, the struggle against patriarchy is ongoing. Women are still expected to perform all the housework and childrearing duties even if they have a career outside the home. Many Cuban women will admit that patriarchal thinking is deeply anchored in Cuban culture. For example, some of the women at Community ESPIRAL said that even though they believe in equality of the genders, they go home every night and cook their family dinner and assume the stereotypical female gender role. The Family Code, which became law in Cuba in 1975, applies the principle of equal rights in the home to the areas of marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, and responsibility for their children. Men are expected to share all the duties and responsibilities relating to the running of the household and the care of the children. However, because patriarchy is entrenched in the home life, women still bare the burden of managing the household and taking care of the children.
Alli Cansler
As part of its commitment to constructing an egalitarian society, the Revolution of Cuba in 1959, attempted to liberate women’s bodies and sexuality. Before the Revolution, the role of most Cuban women was similar to that of other patriarchal Latin American societies where there were rigid stereotypes and a division of roles between the sexes in the home and in society. In post-Revolution Cuba, women were successfully incorporated into agricultural, industrial, and professional occupations. Today, according to the Director of Women’s Magazine, 62% of college graduates are women, 51% of workers in the sciences are women, half of Cuba’s parliament is women, and 70% of prosecutors are women. The Revolution, which has put gender issues to the forefront of policy making, has allowed major transformations in almost every aspect of the lives of Cuban women. As a result of these major transformations, the Cuban Women Federation (CWF) was developed, which serves as a mechanism of the government for the advancement of women. There are almost four million members and it is voluntary admission regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, and religion. The main focus for the Cuban Women Federation is to create a culture of equality. They advocate in health, education, media, combatting gender stereotypes, and for sexual and reproductive justice. In addition, within the last few years the Cuban Women Federation is helping the LGBTQ community in having children.
Despite the statistics and the work of the Cuban Women Federation however, the struggle against patriarchy is ongoing. Women are still expected to perform all the housework and childrearing duties even if they have a career outside the home. Many Cuban women will admit that patriarchal thinking is deeply anchored in Cuban culture. For example, some of the women at Community ESPIRAL said that even though they believe in equality of the genders, they go home every night and cook their family dinner and assume the stereotypical female gender role. The Family Code, which became law in Cuba in 1975, applies the principle of equal rights in the home to the areas of marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, and responsibility for their children. Men are expected to share all the duties and responsibilities relating to the running of the household and the care of the children. However, because patriarchy is entrenched in the home life, women still bare the burden of managing the household and taking care of the children.