The Road to Sexual Equality in Spain

According to several articles I've read, classes I've taken, and women I've talked to, gender discrimination against women exists in Spain more than it does in other modernized countries. The concepts of machismo and marianismo (the idea that women should be pure and obedient like the Virgin Mary) have been a part of the Spanish culture for a long time, mainly due to the influence of Catholicism, which has been the dominant (and oftentimes required) religion for centuries. Just 35 years ago under the conservative dictatorship of Franco, women had few rights and couldn't divorce, abort, travel alone, or open bank accounts without the permission of a spouse.

I personally can't attest to the high degree of sexism present in Spanish society since my interactions with Spanish men are superficial - I neither live with them, date them, nor have deep conversations with them about a woman's role in society. But from what Spanish girls, my teachers, and host mom have told me, machismo is very much still present in Spanish society.

Regardless of all that, Spain has taken tremendous strides in the past decade to bring sexual equality to Spain. In fact, I'm as in love with Spain's current president Zapatero as I am with Barack Obama for all the legislation he's brought forth to further women's status in society. Let me list all the things he's done that I admire:

1. This quote

   I'm not just antimachismo, I'm a feminist. One thing that really awakens my rebellious streak is 20 centuries of one sex dominating the other. We talk of slavery, feudalism, exploitation, but the most unjust domination is that of one half of the human race over the other half. The more equality women have, the fairer, more civilized and tolerant society will be. Sexual equality is a lot more effective against terrorism than military strength.
   
   -José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, NYTimes

   
   
   
2. Law of Equality (Ley de Igualdad) - This affirmative action law, passed in 2007, aims to increase female representation in the work force. Specific legislation includes: large companies must have 40% women on the company boards, political parties must run at least 40% women on the electoral lists, women are given 4 months maternity leave, men are given 2 weeks paternity leave. Source Spanish. Source English.
   
   
3. Abortion rights - Just this summer, in 2010, a new abortion law went into effect allowing women over the age of 16 to get an abortion within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Previously, they were only allowed to in the case of 1) rape 2) fetal malformation 3) physical harm to the mother.
   
   
4. Cabinet appointments - 8 of the 16 cabinet positions, including the vice presidency, were filled with women. My favorite appointment? Zapatero, in a gesture charged with symbolism, chose Carme Chacon to be the Defense Minister - a woman who was 7 months pregnant when she began her position.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Law against Gender Violence - This law, passed in 2004, establishes ways to prevent domestic violence and help women who are currently abused. Specific measures include re-employment and training programs to alleviate economic dependency on the abuser, tougher penalties for offenders, more legal rights for the victims, and informative awareness campaigns to change society's gender stereotypes and attitude towards women. Source.
   
   
   

I realize that within the last few years he's been under fire for his economic policies during the financial crisis, but I only speak to his social policies. In addition to women's rights, he's been a supporter of the LGBT community and legalized gay marriage and adoption in 2005. Overall, he's done a great job in advancing social issues and I think he's a keeper.