A Spanish orphanage in the sixties. A quantitative perspective on the victims.

• In Event: Child Protection and Victim Support

Abstract

Around 500 care leavers and some of their mothers were either born or admitted annually to the Maternity of Barcelona-Les Corts, a spanish orphanage. The Maternity provided refuge for the economically disadvantaged for an entire century, until the late 20th century. Mothers were compelled to serve as in-house workers if they wished to retain custody of their children; failure to comply could result in the child being subject to eventual adoption. The Franco era represented a challenging period for the foundlings, who not only endured harsh living conditions but also faced societal stigma due to the majority of their mothers being unmarried.
Due to the historical proximity of the 1960s or the sensitive nature of the subject matter, no prior research had been conducted. For the first time in Spain, over 5000 manual records pertaining to children and their mothers from 1960 to 1970 have been gathered and subjected to statistical analysis. This initiative seeks to provide scientific substantiation for previously speculative claims. The forthcoming presentation will unveil the research findings, which include socio-demographic data on the institutionalized individuals, insights into the operational aspects of the Maternity (e.g., adoption processes), and an enhanced understanding of the contextual framework wherein the victimization of the children and mothers transpired.

Author

• Laura Arantegui Arràez, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya