Life During the CW - LIFE FOR WOMEN

Question 1

How did Women’s lives change during the civil war?

Answer 1

took jobs in factories & industries traditionally considered male
+
joined comm & anarchist militia groups - 1,000 fought on the military front line

Question 2

Who was a Prominent Female Figure during the civil war?

Answer 2

Dolores Ibarrua - Communist daughter of a miner in the Basque region:

• made public speeches & radio broadcasts to raise repub morale
• known as ‘La Pasionara’ (the passion flower)
• saying of ‘!No Pasaran!’ (they shall not pass) = memorable motto of repubs, symbolises defiance in Madrid siege

Question 3

What role did Women have in the Nationalist zones?

Answer 3

maintained more traditional role:

revival of RCC = strict views on marriage/divorces imposed politically conservative values
- Sep 1936 divorce & civil marriage outlawed
- separate syllabus for girl’s education

inferior to men:
(due to military prominence)
- maintain home
- dress plainly & conservative
- trousers & modern fashion banned e.g. makeup
= ‘positive in times of unrest’

some did work to provide support:
- volunteer nurses
- social workers
- distributing food to the poor
e.g. Seccion Femenina & Carlist Magaritas (but only ‘ appropriate work’ - charity work & food production)

Question 4

What role did Women have in the Republican zones?

Answer 4

more progressive & liberal:

egalitarian attitude towards gender roles
- espc. in radical communities
e.g. Barcelona, Aragon

equal pay = possible due to TU & collective working practices

Question 5

What was the change in the Role of Women in Republican zones?

Answer 5

war created a social revolution:
- social & political freedoms increased (mainly younger, unmarried women took on jobs - others continued family life)

those in high profile roles could address women’s issues
e.g. Federica Montseny minister of health in Caballero’s gov (legalisation of abortion + prostitution)

Question 6

What was the Prostitution situation in each zone?

Answer 6

Republican zone:
- legalised abortion
- greater controls on brothels & prostitutes
e.g. Barcelona = all brothels closed
+ others collectivised to allow p greater control & reduce female exploitation

Nationalist zone:
- 1936-39 = growth of prostitution
- widows had no other choice, soldiers far from home
- resulted in N soldiers reluctant to close brothels down