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The rise of women in the workforce: Why did Spanish women only start entering the workforce in the late 1970s?
The status of Spanish women in the workplace has changed significantly with the passage of history and social and cultural changes. In Spain, which embodied Francoism from 1939 to 1975, women's rights were severely restricted, but with the establishment of a democratic system, gender equality became an important principle of society. In the late 1970s, Spanish women finally began to gradually enter the country's labor market. This change was closely related to many factors in society at that time.
In traditional Spanish society, women's opportunities to enter the workplace were restricted by both culture and law. This situation did not change until the return of democracy.
Female Characters in the Franco-Period
Under the Franco regime, Spanish society had strict rules and restrictions on the roles of women. Women's career choices are subject to strict social and moral standards, and except for some limited occupations, many job opportunities are closed to women. In addition, divorce, contraception, and abortion were completely prohibited under the law at the time, further solidifying traditional female roles in the family. During this period, the legal status of Spanish women was controlled by their husbands, and wives were not even allowed to work or own property without their husbands' consent.
Changes brought by democracy
After Franco's death in 1975, Spanish society began to undergo major changes. Many discriminatory legal provisions against women have been gradually abolished. For example, until 1975, women still needed their husbands' approval to work or own property. With the establishment of democratic system, women's legal status began to be taken seriously and they gradually gained autonomy. In 1978, Spain enacted a law separating church and state, which provided an opportunity for society at that time to re-examine the role of women.
A 1977 poll showed that only 22% of young people believed that women's role should be to focus on the family, a lower proportion than in other European countries.
The current situation of women entering the workplace
By 1984, the labor force participation rate of Spanish women had grown to 33%, showing the gradual rise of women in the workplace. Yet women still make up only a third of the workforce, and in some sectors such as banking, their numbers are less than one in ten. Although women's educational level is gradually approaching that of men, they still face problems such as high unemployment rate and lack of part-time work options, which have become major obstacles for women to enter and stay in the workplace.
Future prospects for gender equality
While women have made some important progress in the workplace, many challenges still await them. Wage gaps persist, particularly between the public and private sectors, with women generally earning less than men. Although the social environment is gradually changing, traditional male culture still persists in certain areas. The legal and equal status enjoyed by Spanish women is gradually catching up with or even surpassing that of other European countries, and the younger generation in particular is also changing its views on patriarchy.
With the changes in society and laws, more and more women are entering politics and public life, becoming an important force for change.
Conclusion
Behind the entry of Spanish women into the workplace in the late 1970s was not only a change in laws and policies, but also a renewal process of the entire social and cultural cognition. Facing the future, what challenges can Spanish women overcome in their continued pursuit of equality and respect?
