Libertarian Women's Contributions to Rural and Working-Class Women's Sexual Education During the Spanish Civil War

• In Event: 64.040 - Gender, Sexuality, Schooling, and the Politics of Resistance

Abstract

This paper focuses on the educational contributions provided by the non-academic women who constituted the libertarian movement called Free Women. Specifically, we focus on their contributions to the rural and working class women's sexual education during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The data provided arise from a longitudinal study initiated in 2006, based on a review of historical and scientific literature and on the recovery of the voices of five women who participated in the movement. The results obtained highlight how Free Women generated educational alternatives, which challenged the hegemonic discourses on sexuality at the time. We address two of the main concepts in which they deepened: 1) conscious maternity, and 2) intimate relationships based on free love.

Authors

• Sandra Girbés-Peco, University of Barcelona

• Rocio Garcia-Carrion, University of Deusto

• Carme Garcia Yeste, Universitat Rovira i Virgili

• Oriol Rios, Universitat Rovira i Virgili