The Cuban Revolution: The Impact on Gender Equality

Women played a key role in the Cuban Revolution. From nurses to soldiers, from house wives to activists, these women caused a surge in the development of gender roles and equality in the mid to late twentieth century.

Photo by Alberto Korda via http://artblart.com/tag/cuban-revolution/


​The Cuban Revolution was the turning point when it came to women's equality in Cuba. Through combat, the workforce, and legislation, women proved that they were equal to men and deserved the same rights, opportunities, and treatment as their male counterparts.

Pre-Revolution

Before the Cuban Revolution, women were illiterate, uneducated, and considered useful for one thing: being mothers. However, women wanted to break away from this life. From the formation of the Club Feminino de Cuba (Women's Club of Cuba) in 1917 to the legal women's suffrage in 1934, women got that change with an organised opposition to a male-dominated Cuba.

During the Revolution

The Cuban Revolution was one of the key factors in obtaining women's equality in Cuba. Through combat and protest, women showed both unfaltering nationalism and strong character.

Post-Revolution

Women quickly gained legal ground after the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro respected their role in the revolution and gave them what they had been asking for: equality. However, this legal ground gained was merely idealistic, and the Cuban people were not ready for such a social movement. Therefore, society has not, for the most part, accommodated these changes with open arms until recent years.