Federation of Cuban Women
The Federation of Cuban Women (Spanish: Federación de Mujeres Cubanas)[1] (FMC) was established in 1948 by a group of activists including Mirta Aguirre, María Argüelles, Edith García Buchaca, Ana M. Hidalgo, Celia Machado, Candelaria Rodríguez, Caridad Sánchez, Cipriana Vidaurreta, and María Josefa Vidaurreta as the Federación Democrática de Mujeres Cubanas (Democratic Federation of Cuban Women).
The FMC was deeply involved in the 1961 Cuban literacy campaign and in supplying workers after the mass exodus of trained labor following the Revolution.
This increase in woman's parliamentary occupation has listed Cuba sixth from a pool of 162 countries regarding women's amount of political participation.
Shortly after the Revolution, motivated by patriotism and sustained by political will, Fidel Castro declared that illiteracy would be eradicated within 1 year.
[6] Having had a monumental impact on Cuban women's literacy levels, the campaign instilled a learning culture and environment where none existed.
As young adults in Cuba saw the revolutionary effect possible via education and literature, the FMC simultaneously established resilience and solidarity amongst the countries women, resulting in abolished social barriers, especially between rural and urban populations.
Historically speaking, the FMC has come up against a variety of challenges including but not limited to international affairs, economic constraints, and advancing political policies.
Further building on the challenge of international pressures; the FMC has had to answer to external scrutiny which is negatively impacting their advocacy efforts and thus making diplomatic finesse necessary.
Per contra, the FMC's constant and mass advocation via the global stage has strengthened Cuba's international reputation, cementing gender equality as a grand concern.
By utilizing influence to direct policies women's empowerment and the advocation of gender equality the FMC has been proactive about responding to this instability.
A significant achievement stands in the constitutional assurance of equal rights for women across economic, political, cultural, social, and familial domains.
[7] Additionally, the FMC is responsible for enacting instrumental measures in legislative adjustments that have resulted in the beneficial influence in the lives of women, and thus promoting empowerment and inclusiveness in the countries culture.
[10] Its clear that the FMC has advanced gender equity, with its reinforcing accomplishment in 2015 where woman held about half of the Cuban National Assembly parliamentary seats.The FMC's efforts have not been confined to the political realm; they have also shaped education, healthcare, and workforce policies, fostering an atmosphere conducive to achieving gender parity.
