Women's Role In The Cuban Revolution

Throughout history, humanity has always yearned for better. When a leader, as an individual or an entire government, ceases to fuel their nation’s drive for better, the citizens take it into their own hands. From this sovereignty of the people, the idea of revolution is born. This idea has become prominent many times. One can analyze a country like France. Due to the government’s selfish actions, the third estate revolted. In countries like Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico, the citizens were tired of strict rule from a power that is an ocean away. This caused the people in Latin America to revolt against their leader, Spain. Although the French and Latin American Revolutions both were inspired by the American Revolution and Enlightenment ideas, the French Revolution was vastly unsuccessful compared to the Latin American Revolution which brought freedom to many countries.

The Latin American revolution did not fulfill the goals of the revolution. Although they gained independence from Spain, the social construct did not change. This is the opposite of the Haitian Revolution. In Haiti, the slaves fought against slavery in many violent protest including burning of plantations. Ultimately, the whole social construct reversed from French officials and les grands blancs on top and the slaves on the bottom to les grands blancs not being a part of society and the slaves on top. In the long run, the large plantations supported the whole economy of Haiti and once slavery was abolished, the small farms did not come close to the same profit. In this way, the economical impact of the revolution was not successful, but the

Carol Berkin clearly states her thesis in the introduction of Revolutionary Mothers. “Despite the absence of radical changes in gender ideology and gender roles for most women, the Revolution did lend legitimacy to new ideas about women’s capacities and their proper roles”. (Berkin 2005) In two thousand and fourteen it is questionable about how clearly women’s roles have changed especially in the areas of economics and politics at least it is obvious that the revolution did not bring equality.

The effects of the Cuban Revolution on women’s lives and gender relations in Cuba from 1959 to 1990 include that some say women have not reached equality yet with men, women gained more opportunities for themselves, economy and politics, and also how women still had responsibility for children and home, not men.

As the saying goes, “a woman’s work is never done,” but today’s women live a far different life than their predecessors. The women of the revolution were courageous and brave-hearted. The obstacles of their time were far more difficult to overcome than those faced by women in this day and age. Whether it was slavery, war, or racial prejudice, these women kept their heads held high and worked to break down these barriers and create change for the future. On top of having to deal with these hardships, the women of the revolution had families to take care of, mouths to feed, houses to clean, and wounds to heal. For many women of the revolution it was all about taking a stand for their rights and being

Generally an overview that explained on how women had their culture prior, during the war as well as how it resulted to be when the war ceased. It is vivid that the women themselves had been allocated respective roles to undertake in order for understanding the background of their life during the pre-war. It was stated that despite them having these roles they broke the norms of which they been expected to having by themselves. Revolutionary women, however, had a goal as well as motivation towards independence. Women are said to have struggled in that it aided in changing their

The Effects of the Cuban Revolution on Women’s lives and Gender relations in Cuba from 1959 to 1990

The readings for this week consisted of the second half of Conceiving Cuba by Elise Andaya (2014). This half of the book focused on abortion, gendered work and surviving through migration (Andaya, 2014). Overall, Andaya (2014) focuses less on reproductive health and women than one would expect, and instead provides more of a critique of the shortcomings of the socialist revolution in Cuba. These critiques get in the way of Andaya’s (2014) narrative and ultimately detract from the discussion of reproductive health in Cuba.

, and tobacco, for 60 years this has been Cuba’s calling cards, a land that hasn’t progressed much in six decades Cuba has stood as a vacation paradise for many of the worlds powerful nations, including Europe, Canada, and Australia. Most people who visit Cuba rarely see past the white sands, blue water, and endless alcohol of resorts, going off said resorts will give an entirely different view of the country. A people of farmers, musicians, and artisans, the Cuban people are a simple and hard working group all looking. For 60 years the Cuban government has kept the United States out of the country for the most part, that is until recently. During the cold war, Cuba joined the communist nations and went as far to allow Russian missiles to be placed on Cuban soil this was seen as a threat to American interests, causing John F. Kennedy to impose an embargo on the small nation just 80 miles away from Florida. With the Obama administration now lifting these embargos this can be viewed as both a positive and a negative thing to the county. While yes opening up Cuba to America will do wonders for it economically, I believe that culturally the country will suffer greatly. Often when American influence is permitted into a country there is often corruption that follows, Industrial corruption, cultural bullying, and the influx of drugs, are all issues that seem to follow whenever America enters a former enemy state. While yes from an economic stand point the country may do well,

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “ Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Mr.King completely understood that silence will not change an injustice. An well-known and successfully way of not remaining silent and passive is through revolution. A revolution is the forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system, usually with better with better rules and regulations. Karl Max once said, “ Revolutions are the locomotives of history.”

Without the assistance and use of Soldaderas, the mexican revolution would not have been what it was. There was a major change in which women were viewed and treated before and after the war. Women took roles that belonged to women, whether it was as a nurse, a cook, a soldadera, etc. they all played a major role in completing and fighting for the cause that other men were after. Through courage and bravery women were able to receive respect as well as better treatment. As they also came to a realization as to what roles they should be able to obtain regardless of the gender. They were able to fight for equal rights, and equal treatment just as men.

Around the world and across history, women are not the first thing one thinks of when we think of revolution. When thinking of revolution and the ensuing revolutionary wars one thinks of men with guns and other kinds of manly things. However, the reality is that across Latin America, most evidently in the Cuban Revolution, women played an essential role in the successes of such movements. It goes without saying that women were present in revolutions all across Latin America most notably in Nicaragua, Chile, and El Salvador. Cuba’s revolutionary heroines Celia Sanchez, Vilma Espin, and Haydee Santamaria among others made the role of women in this kind of revolution vibrant and exciting. Celia

A revolution is known as being an activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation. Cuba during the decade of the 1950's experienced this type of rebellion in search for an enhanced and better-developed society, independent of all outside domination. Cuban citizens were at a point where they needed to be free and be able to enforce the constitution established in 1940, which included amendments stating that Cuba should be a "democratic republic…shall not conclude or ratify pacts or treaties that in any form limit or menace national sovereignty or the integrity of the territory," and such. I chose this topic because there has been so much controversy

In 1918, the Feminine Club of Cuba was formed. During the 1920s, most women were not employed. For the few that were, they received lower wages than men for the equal amount of work. Women could not vote or to be involved in politics. In the household, men would have full authority.In 1921, the National Federation of Feminine Associations of Cuba was established and in April 1st to April 7th of 1923, the First National Congress of Women was held. Most delegates were middle-class women who had contrasting perspectives when it came to social, political, and religious beliefs. Despite the differences, they came together to establish solutions on common conflicts of gender inequality in the social, political and economic sector. They were also

Machismo is the unequal reliance on women to complete housework allowing the man time to do leisure activities. This practice has been in place for decades throughout Latin America and represents an important obstacle to equality within the home. The 1968 Cuban film “Lucía”, depicts the machoism and showcases the strong social constraints upholding male dominance . The Cuban government has attempted to combat this trend by socializing housework which in essence splits the work up equally . However, near impossible to enforce which places the burden on women to report their own husband to the authorities. Another barrier still in place in Cuba is the lack of proper representation in the Cuban government. While Cuba boasts high representation in the Legislative body, this figure is misleading because true power within Cuba rests with the Cuban Communist Party which has female membership at a dismal 7% . Other significant factors include the lack of domestic violence within criminal law and the prevalence of sexual