Women and Machismo in Santiago de Cuba: A Failed Gender Revolution?

Whilst the relative standing of Cuban women in the workplace and in access to education health and professional work has much improved since the start of the Cuban Revolution aspects of women’s social life notably in the household have not changed significantly. In reality machismo continues to be an omnipresent factor shaping women’s everyday lives in the domestic sphere. This publication will show that there is still a long way to go before the intentions of the Revolution and in particular Article 44 of the Cuban Constitution can be fulfilled. Article 44 stipulates a woman’s right to equality in the home work health provision and in their entitlement to state benefits. Despite the Revolution’s ongoing efforts patriarchy sexism and machismo continue to be obstacles in the struggle commonly known as la lucha for gender equality. This struggle is argued to have important political as well as economic consequences for Cuba’s future.