the cuban family code

1970s 1980s 1990s

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 Before the Revolution in 1959, Cuba was a sugar plantation economy and its laws were mostly based on nineteenth century colonial Spanish law. After the Revolution many changes were made to the national laws, especially with respect to improving race and gender relations.
In 1961 Vilma Espin founded the Federacion de Mujeres Cubanas (Federation of Cuban Women). The FMC spearheaded successful efforts that included literacy campaigns, reproductive rights, including birth control, and the integration of women into the waged labor force. She and the other women had the support of the Castro's government in legislating change.

 

 

 

 

In 1975, largely owing to the efforts of women like Vilma Espin and those involve with the FMC, Cuba legislated gender equality in the domestic sphere of labor. The Cuban Family Code enjoins husbands to share childcare and housework equally with their spouses. As such it represents a unique development in modern reformulations of the family.

 

In legislating gender equality in the sphere of domestic labor, Cuba is unlike any other country in the world, socialist or otherwise.

 

The biggest export during the 1970s continued to be sugar, and women made up a significant portion of agricultural labor.

 

 

 

Throughout the decade, according to some sources, literacy rates improved and the number of women entering the workforce dramatically increased.

1970s 1980s 1990s

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