Vilma, Simply Vilma
Closely related to union work, the
former leader of the Federation of Cuban Women left a remarkable imprint on
Cuba’s work life
Caridad Lafita Navarro
Vilma, simply Vilma — That is how Cubans would address her. When any woman had difficulties in the work place or in the community, it was comforting and strong moral support for them to say, “I’m going to report this to Vilma!”
People used to do that because Vilma Espin, who was born in Santiago de Cuba and was an active fighter in the Rebel Army in the late 1950s, was the paradigm for the defense of women's rights, a great driving force —along with Fidel— of a revolution inside the Revolution.
The president of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Vilma was always close to union work and was responsible for significant changes in Cuban working practices.
Ovewr its almost five decades of existence, the Revolution has introduced radical transformations in the socio-economic structure of the country. Women greatly benefit from the creation of jobs and educational programs, transforming the narrow horizons of domestic chores into creative and socially useful professions.
The FMC, led by Vilma, is responsible for the conquest of women’s working rights and the availability of numerous social benefits: the construction and operation of day-care centers, the increase in boarding schools and the creation of basic services to ease domestic chores.
Vilma struggled in the legal field for the preparation and implementation of major legislations such as the Childhood and Youth Code and the Family Code — the latter advocating greater participation of all the family members in domestic chores and child care. It is a fact that many women are the major pillar of economic support for their families because they receive higher wages, in accordance with their higher levels of qualification.
Since 1959, the FMC has struggled for eliminating preconceptions and prejudices against Cuban mothers and grandmothers. The results are the large numbers of women working outside the home and their importance as human resources in Cuba. A large number of women are doctors, scientists and teachers, making up more than two thirds of the technical personnel.
As head of the National Action Plan for Monitoring the UN Conference on Women (The Beijing conference), Vilma promoted its continuity. She saw this as a way of developing gender equality in Cuba —particularly regarding employment— despite the economic hardships of the nineties. The accomplishments are now evident: the level of development reached by Cuban women, one of the most outstanding achievements of the Cuban Revolution, is marked by a quantitative and qualitative increase in their participation in the economic and social life of the country.
This is the essence of Vilma’s legacy. Just like this, simply Vilma.
21/06/2007, 07:17
Fuente: www.trabajadores.cu
Caridad Lafita Navarro
Vilma, simply Vilma — That is how Cubans would address her. When any woman had difficulties in the work place or in the community, it was comforting and strong moral support for them to say, “I’m going to report this to Vilma!”
People used to do that because Vilma Espin, who was born in Santiago de Cuba and was an active fighter in the Rebel Army in the late 1950s, was the paradigm for the defense of women's rights, a great driving force —along with Fidel— of a revolution inside the Revolution.
The president of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), Vilma was always close to union work and was responsible for significant changes in Cuban working practices.
Ovewr its almost five decades of existence, the Revolution has introduced radical transformations in the socio-economic structure of the country. Women greatly benefit from the creation of jobs and educational programs, transforming the narrow horizons of domestic chores into creative and socially useful professions.
The FMC, led by Vilma, is responsible for the conquest of women’s working rights and the availability of numerous social benefits: the construction and operation of day-care centers, the increase in boarding schools and the creation of basic services to ease domestic chores.
Vilma struggled in the legal field for the preparation and implementation of major legislations such as the Childhood and Youth Code and the Family Code — the latter advocating greater participation of all the family members in domestic chores and child care. It is a fact that many women are the major pillar of economic support for their families because they receive higher wages, in accordance with their higher levels of qualification.
Since 1959, the FMC has struggled for eliminating preconceptions and prejudices against Cuban mothers and grandmothers. The results are the large numbers of women working outside the home and their importance as human resources in Cuba. A large number of women are doctors, scientists and teachers, making up more than two thirds of the technical personnel.
As head of the National Action Plan for Monitoring the UN Conference on Women (The Beijing conference), Vilma promoted its continuity. She saw this as a way of developing gender equality in Cuba —particularly regarding employment— despite the economic hardships of the nineties. The accomplishments are now evident: the level of development reached by Cuban women, one of the most outstanding achievements of the Cuban Revolution, is marked by a quantitative and qualitative increase in their participation in the economic and social life of the country.
This is the essence of Vilma’s legacy. Just like this, simply Vilma.
21/06/2007, 07:17
Fuente: www.trabajadores.cu