feminist movements in Cuba

Question 1

What were castro’s regime’s intentions with women

Answer 1

To improve their situations

Question 2

Who was the most important women in the castro government and what was her role

Answer 2

Vilma Espin, daughter of a rich Bacardi rum company and wife of Castro’s brother since 59. She was a member of the Ventral Committee of the Communist Party and the Political Bureau.

Question 3

When was the FMC set up and by who

Answer 3

1960 Vilma Espin

Question 4

What was the role of the FMC

Answer 4

monitored women’s progress and established childcare sustenance or working women, vocational education and healthcare programs for peasant women, and schools that taught maids and prostitutes their trades

Question 5

How many members did it grow to and by when

Answer 5

In 2000: biggest women’s organization with over 3 million members.

Question 6

How did women benefit from castro’s regime

Answer 6

complete freedom of choice about abortion, birth control and assistance with childcare and generous maternity leave.

Question 7

What law was introduced in 1974?

Answer 7

maternity of the Working Women law gave women six weeks of paid leave before birth and one year of job security after birth if the mother chose additional unpaid leave.

Question 8

What law was introduced in 1972 and was it easy to enforce?

Answer 8

The Cuban Family Code outlawed discrimination against women, recognized the right of women to have an education and employment, made it law for husbands to assist in household Labour and childcare, made divorce easier. Espin admitted it was hard to enforce the law, especially the double day.

Question 9

What event caused cutbacks in women’s rights in cuba

Answer 9

When soviet subsidies ceased in the 90s. Prostitution, radical exploitation of black women, and overall gender discrimination revived, even though they had been supposedly dealt with during the 30 years of the Castro regime.

Question 10

Overall how progressive was cuba?

Answer 10

While the statistics show that Cuba in comparison to other Latin American countries were far more progressive with women’s rights, this cutback shows that gender equality was still not “a perfect model of equality and Justice”, said by Castro himself