Women's Education in Francoist Spain: How to Be an Actor for the State

Abstract

Gen. Francisco Franco began his dictatorship in Spain immediately following the Spanish Civil War in 1939. He remained in power until his death in November 1975. The ideology of his regime essentially stripped women of their citizenship; however, the regime also noted that women could be useful actors for the state-- by fiercely maintaining their private space so that their husbands and sons could uphold their public patriotic duties to Franco. Thus, women were educated on exactly how they could serve the state. This indoctrination was done in three primary ways: the use of historical figures, domesticity training, and the institution of a Catholic curriculum. Women were educated in numbers higher than ever before in Francoist Spain, a fact seemingly contrary to the regime's values, but they were also prohibited from aspiring outside of the home. My project focuses on this paradox and how it was implemented.