Women According to Young People

By Isabelle

Photos: Sureidy

Certainly the theme of machismo and the role of the Cuban women in society still out colors and awaken humor in some young people. For some it was irrelevant to talk about the problem, because in Cuba everything is said and determined. To others, Cuba has made progress, and even ratifiy the island as the most advanced country in terms of the solution of women´s problems.

However, in recent years, it seems as if Cuba had stuck our steps, because society, although it do not return to old practices, it renews the ways of undervaluing women.

Thus, public interest campaigns and media messages against gender violence, inclusion and acceptance, among others, are partially degraded by messages of powerful impact and in the taste of many, such as video clips or humorous programs.

In terms of equality of opportunity for both sexes, most of the interviewees think of access to study and work; and describe it as something positive, because it does not exclude, at least explicitly, anyone.

However, despite the apparently conscientious protest of feminists, "males" polygamous attitude is still greeted and assumed as a merit of doubtful culpability. The laughter, irony and picaresque looks of the interviewees corroborated it.

Robert Vidal

Robert Vidal Lopez. 18 years old
"Times have changed, it is no longer as before when women had no right to vote or to have positions in society. We have advanced and it shows less machismo ".

Kayla Beltran Marino. 16.

Kayla Beltrán

"There is still machismo in Cuban society. I think women allow these attitudes to be kept, because they do not rebel; especially when you talk about relationships, boys are still congratuled for having many girlfriends at the same time. Women are less free in that aspect. Despite this, I believe both sexes are equal. We can do everything,  without any prohibitions."

Janet Montes de Oca

Janet Montes de Oca Peña. 17.

."There's still machismo, although offers are the same for both sexes. There is also something of prejudice. For example, some men would not like to see women doing traditional jobs such as carpentry and others of this kind, for fear theymay be better than them at that. And not only there, in any work men can feel bad of having a woman as boss or noting that she gets a greater recognition. All this happens because it is an inherited behavior.

"Machismo is not of this time. Similarly, women grow it, encourage it, because accepting in silencet is a way of contributing to nothing change; but in men this attitude is more frequent.

"I think  although the family make every effort to avoid such positions, it is very difficult, because young people now are more influenced by society, because there is more social interaction, we spend more time outside home, at school, with friends or in the street than with our relatives."

"It is true that we are in a better position now than, I don't know, 40 years ago, but it won´t be easy to make men change, that society change. My greatest wish for within a few years is that macho enforcement vary, decrease".

Maria Victoria Montalvo. 45.

María Victoria

"Youth is the one that lives machismo more and it is curious, because it should be the older generations, because of the kind of education and the social customs of that time. This can be seen in the most intimate relations: family. The same young women dedicate themselves, almost as an obligation, without a protest, to the care of home and children, and young men, of course, wash their hands. There are some exceptions, but mostly young people think and act like this.

"It is true there are works women cannot do, or they are easier for men, but not so the men may think that they are the most important. Unfortunately, there are some women that also bring about that situation. It seems they like that kind of abuse, because violence is not only to be hitted. Despite the work of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), females do not internalize things.

"Likewise, there are some situations that force them to rely on family and men. For example, sometimes they want to work, but if they have children who are not attending the daycare center or the workplace does not understand their situation, the only choice mothers have is to withdraw from social life, because we have in mind those only women must do these sacrifices.”

Miosotis

Miosotis Oviedo Junco, 16.

"We have the same rights. Even something as simple seemingly as traditional games, althoug girls or young girls can be called  butch, it is already accepted as something for  both sexes.

"But... women remain the most criticized. There we have the example of couples. It will never be considered right a woman who has several relationships in a row, although not by promiscuity and she is really looking for the best company, while the same thing in a man is a motive of fun".