Blackwell Reference Online

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Mujeres Libres (Free Women) was an anarchist organization dedicated to the education and greater participation of women in the Spanish Revolution of 1936. The group was founded in Madrid in September 1936 by Lucía Sánchez Saornil , Mercedes Comaposada, and Amparo Poch y Gascón in response to the way in which many women during the Spanish Revolution felt relegated to the sidelines by mainstream anarchist groups. At the time of the group's peak activity in August 1937 there were approximately 30,000 members throughout Spain. During the revolution women enjoyed many advantages they had not previously known. They had more access to factory jobs and were more able to leave the home as unions attempted to increase employment. Where previously men were paid a far greater wage, agricultural collectives in some areas began paying men and women the same rate. Nevertheless, women were left with the burden of the household and raising of small children and were thus unable to go to union meetings and organize. In 1935 the Groupo Cultural Feminino CNT was founded within the larger anarchist union CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo). This early group focused its activity on working for a larger role for women within the existing anarchist movement. Some members of Groupo Cultural Feminino CNT soon realized, however, that the Spanish anarchist movement was less willing than desired to ... log in or subscribe to read full text