CubaPLUS Magazine

Cubans celebrate a new March 8, International Women's Day, with the pride of many goals achieved, compared to the past times lived by mothers or grandmothers, but also with their foot on the accelerator, knowing that there are stillchallenges to overcome and more contributions to deliver, on the path of female empowerment and full equality.

That sounds somewhat solemn and a huge challenge, but they are not scared. We no longer live in the times of our grandmothers, although many of these were the brave and daring breakers of taboos who in the 1960s left their homes en masse to study and work in this land that was moving rapidly and offered them a world of opportunities previously denied to the “weaker sex”.

Nor are they coevals of glorious, well-remembered predecessors such as Vilma Espín and Ana Betancourt, but they continue to be a source of inspiration and models for Cuban women. Both of them and the German socialist Clara Zetkin, the indisputable creator of International Women's Day, are honored in the Pearl of the Caribbean every March 8, which here is a day of celebration, counting and concrete plans for the struggles of the everyday life.

From the family to the communities and work and study centers, everything happens on that day and always with a harmonious and supportive spirit. No one hates anyone, nor furiously fights the other gender. In addition, this International Women's Day arrives, making everyone happy to know that 55.3 percent of the members proposed for the new Parliament, whose election will take place shortly, are part of the formidable female force.

The leading role of women is appreciable in the scientific and technological fields of the country, in which more than 50 percent of its members are of that sex, as well as in the labor force. Since 2018, our Parliament had already achieved the milestone of having the majority of female components within its trained and consecrated ranks, making it the second body in the world with these characteristics, condition that it will maintain in the proposals for the new legislators. It is important that the seats won by Cuban women are not due to handouts or concessions.

They are responsibilities earned by their merits, unequivocally measured, with complete fairness.The level of female professionals is also very high in Cuba and has been a force that began to grow with the equality of opportunities emanating from the Revolution and the fulfillment of a general system of public education valued among the best in the world.

Cuban women, as happy, warm, fun, hard-working, seductive and fighting as the rest of their compatriots, have never wasted time and it can be said that they are not slow in taking advantage of opportunities and fighting for their aspirations, whatever the cost.They receive the same salary as men for equal work, they benefit from laws that protect maternity, they accept abortion by free decision, although they do not promote it due to the risks it can bring to health.

One could talk for hours about the current benefits that give Cuban women peace of mind. Not everything is plain sailing, because in society there remain  strong members of machismo and violence against women, and occasional signs of discrimination based on gender and skin color. An inclusive and advanced Family Code protects them.

To combat social scourges there are projects that are directed or accompanied by the Federation of Cuban Women.