The Feminine Section of the Falange and the Francoist model of women

The arrival of Francoism It marked the break with the republican past. In the case of the womana clear recoil as to rights, education and freedoms. The new Francoist society, patriarchal and paternalistic, fed and recovered a certain archetype away from the version of empowered femininity. In this model of a traditional woman, the Female Section of the Falange played a decisive role.

Furthermore, this new femininity would have a legal coverage through the Civil Code of 1889 and of Protection Board to women, from 1941. Today we approach the patron of Francoist women and its deconstruction.

The theoretical and legal framework of the Francoist woman model: the Board of Trustees of 1941 and the Civil Code of 1889

The Patronage for the Protection of Women of 1941 was born under the protection of the Ministry of Justice. She was a public institution in charge of watch over female morality and behavior. It should be said that the germ of this Board of Trustees was born in 1909, being known as “Royal Patronage for white slavery” (1).

“The purpose of the Board will be the moral dignity of women, especially young women, to prevent their exploitation, separate them from vice and educate them in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Religion” (2).

With this legal coverage, the main repressive body on womenwhich remained in operation until 1984. This institution, under Francoist precepts, sought to make women act according to the christian morality and the indissoluble concept of mother-wife. Therefore, anyone who behaved differently was considered a “abnormal” either “ill” (3). And so, she was susceptible to being confined in some internment center, dependent on the Church, to redirect her morals and conduct.

The internment centers of the Board

To these centers they were going to stop women that they did not follow the moral guidelines of Francoism. Through the Observation and Classification Center (COC), the fate of the detainees was decided (4). It should be said that they came to these centers mainly by complaints (5).

Once the tests pertinent observations, they are ranked according to your morality in the following groups: young clean (without any moral alteration), rejected youth in their homes, young victims of prostitution, young pregnant women Y young homosexuals or with other supposed “alterations” (6).

Those accused of prostitution went to centers where they were isolated from the rest and were subjected to medical tests of a sexual nature. Pregnant women to the maternity unit, and whose only way out was marriage. The lesbians go to psychiatric centers, and the rest, to home-workshops or family homes (7).

In these centers, the tasks of “re-education” They focused on the tasks attributed to women: ironing, sewing, cooking, cleaning, caring, etc. Also, kinds of political, religious and moral values.

The reinstatement of the Civil Code of 1889

Franco reestablished the Civil Code of 1889in which the woman it was discriminated against legally. it came to equate with people affected by mental problems. Thus, article 1263 declared that could not consent:

“Unemancipated minors, the crazy or insane and the deaf and dumb who cannot write, and finally, married women, in the cases expressed by law” (8).

The role of women through this Code

The woman could not exerciseof his own free will, custody. This was made known through the Art. 237: “They cannot be guardians or protectors: the married women that they had not obtained permission from her husband”.

The case of adultery was yet another sign of discrimination, since adultery was only committed by the married woman and her lover (9). The husband remained unpunished before the desires of revenge, carrying, in the event that he murdered her, the penalty of banishment. If he “only” caused other types of injuries, he was exempt (10).

At the level of goods, the woman had no real ownership of anything. only the so-called “domestic authority” either “power of the keys” (eleven). That is, matters related to the home, education, clothing and care.

For all other activities, such as getting your driving license, passport, opening a checking account and even working, you should have the “marital license”that is, the permission and consent of the husband (12).

The Feminine Section of the Falange

“It has always made me sad to see women doing men’s exercises, all eager and deranged in a rivalry where —among the morbid complacency of male competitors— all the odds are to lose. True feminism should not consist in wanting for women the functions that today are considered superior, but in surrounding female functions with ever greater human and social dignity” (13).

The Feminine Section of the Falange, was born in June 1934 by the hand of Pilar Primo de Rivera. was looking for prepare women as mothers, wives and housewives for the future, and educate her in submission (14).

For this, this Feminine Section of the Falange focused on the education of women in the Christian and national-syndicalist preceptsraising the home-schools Y traveling chairs (fifteen). Their teachings They were considered obligatory in primary and secondary schools (16).

These activities were combined with important propaganda actionslike the concentrations of women of the Section and the creation of the Choirs and Dances (17). Also, with the spread of National-Syndicalist Women’s Magazinealso called Women’s Magazine.

The exercise that they carried out during the Civil war, would mark the future of the Feminine Section of the Falange. Caring for soldiers, washing clothes, mending them, cooking, cleaning, etc. To channel this educational work, the Social service.

The Social Service: the Military of the Feminine Section of the Falange

The purpose was for women to receive all the teachings and training to train them for their future mission in life within home and of the family.

The germ of the Social Service we find it in the social assistance, a framework that provided assistance during the years of the Civil War. This consisted of serving children’s canteens, kitchens brotherhood, help the soldier, the sick, the child, the elderly, etc. (18). Therefore, this social service would work, from 1937 to 1939, in Social Assistance centers, directed by Mercedes Sanz Bachiller. Later, in 1939passed into the hands of the Female Section of the Falange (19).

Which women was this service intended for?

This service would be requiredfrom 1939, for women between 17 and 35 yearsalthough with exceptions. For example, they would not have to comply married womenthose that presented some type of disability either widows with children at your expense. Neither were those who could demonstrate having worked during the war, providing some equivalent service.

would remain exemptalso, women who had some worked whose day prevented them from fulfilling the service (20). Likewise, those older than eight siblings or more, and daughters or sisters of “Fallen” who were economically dependent on them. Lastly, the religiousthe maidsthe artists and the older daughters of a widowed father or mother (21).

What did this Social Service of the Feminine Section of the Falange consist of?

As a rule, it lasted for 6 months: three months of theoretical training Y three months of internship. These months of internships were carried out in hospitals, nursing homes, canteens, etc. In all those places where the activities correspond to care, food, cleaning and repairs.

There was three modalities to carry out the Social Service: Ordinary, three months of training and three months of benefits. A second model, in internment regimewhich would last three months. A third model, the academic, with four months duration. And finally, free or remote. In this last modality, the Encyclopedia for Social Service Compliersfor those women who could not attend in person because in their localities there were no institutions where they could provide the service (22).

It was mandatory, being considered a “National Duty”. It was also necessary so that women could exercise public functions, work in the administration and obtain professional titles (23).

Also, get the certificate having passed this service, allowed to obtain the passportthe driving license, and the power to belong to centers and associations. If they did not have it, all this was forbidden to them.

What was studied in this Social Service of the Feminine Section of the Falange?

The subjects that were studied in this service, would be the following: political educationcall foundations of the national spirit. Religion, physical education and education of home teachings. Within these valid teachings for the home we would find: home economics, cooking, dressmaking, hygiene and home medicine, manual labor, chores, washing and ironing. In addition, they would have history, family and social formation, postnatal childcare, etc. Biweekly they had activities on music, literature, art, theater, cinema, etc. (24).

Finally, to say that, obviously, they were unpaid jobs. However, it has been in 2020 when has been approved that these months are valid for the retirement contribution (25).

“Pretty and demure, strong but obedient: the ideal woman of the regime”

The paper of the woman in society Francoist, was that of a high school that barely comes on stage. The woman was the man’s companionthe queen of House and the glue family unit, nothing more. she could hardly take own decisionsdid not have estatenor of economic independence.

Their moral was governed by a corseted body of virtues and defects that forced him to behave in the only way allowed. should not be expressed publicneither contradict to her husband. The correct” Francoist woman he only had to worry about his appearanceto go to massto wear well home and to have his family cared for. There are no aspirations, dreams, desires… Only obedience, resignation Y submission. Thus, the Francoist State made it clear that: «These are my principles, and if you do not like them, in this case, No I have others.”

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