Seven Oaks Magazine.

Alicia Gonzalez is a leader of the Cuban Federation of Women, the largest women’s organization in Cuba. She is presently on a speaking tour across Canada, addressing the role of women in the Cuban Revolution, their gains and the challenges they continue to face. Gonzalez recently sat down with Seven Oaks to discuss this important topic.

1. What is your role with the Cuban Federation of Women, and also, what is the Federation’s role in Cuban society?

I work full-time, as staff, with the Federation. I work in the foreign relations department, and I have been working with this organization for six years. And I think that this is a very powerful organization; it gathers more than 4 million women together from all over the country. It represents 86 percent of all Cuban women.

2. What are some of the major gains made by women through your organization and struggle?

Well, major gains have been made – not only in the judicial area but also in real life. In terms of economic rights, for example, in Cuba women are paid the same salary as men for the same amount of hours, for the same job. All women have the same rights as men to have access to jobs. And also they have 24 days per year guaranteed for vacation, and maternity leave that is quite advanced.

They have many other rights in the area of employment. And in many other areas as well, such as in education programs, in health, in the cultural life. So there have been many advancements, but there are still many things to do as well.

3. In Canada and in the United States, it remains a struggle to ensure access to abortion and even to maintain the legality of that right for women. Do women have access to abortion in Cuba?

One of the first laws passed in favour of women, in 1964, allowed women to have an abortion when the couple decides – at least the woman decides -- they do not have the conditions for a baby at this moment. Under the age of 16, it requires parents’ permission. But mainly it is a woman’s decision. And all abortions in Cuba are in safe places.

4. Obviously the Revolution has made great strides for women, but what are women doing to continue the struggles against sexism, against machismo, in Cuban society?

Yes, we can say that in social life, in the public area, women have gained a lot of space. But, still, in the domestic space, in our homes, there are many things to do, there are still many stereotypes. Men have been educated as well, so men also have advanced a lot, to learn not to help but to share – which are two different verbs. So we are working on developing a real culture of equality.

5. I understand you took some of your studies in Russia. Given the experiences there, and with the collapse of the ‘Socialist Bloc,’ many people no longer view socialism as a viable option for the world. What example does Cuba offer on this question?

I think there was a misconception. There was a way of thinking that all people should struggle for a better society, but in general. Only once everything had been achieved, then women’s issues would be solved. But in Cuba, women said ‘No, we don’t wait for anything. We will start struggling from the beginning.’ And maybe this has been the difference between our socialist feminism in Cuba and other socialist feminism in other places. There has been a revolution of women within another revolution. That’s maybe one of the differences.

6. Fidel Castro’s accident last month is a reminder of his mortality. What steps are being taken in Cuba to develop new leadership and to prepare for moves that the United States might make against Cuba once Fidel is no longer the President.

Well, the United States is very bad in mathematics, they are always very bad in making counts. Yes, they think that once Fidel is no longer with us that Cuba will be in their hands. But this is not true because Cuba is not only Fidel. No one man can withstand so much, can do so many things. It has been a whole country, a whole people, millions of people. That’s a mistake [by the United States ] because for Cubans, one thing is very clear: We won’t go back to the 1950s. And everything we have gained, we are not in the position of losing.

We know we have a lot of things to do. We live with a lot of difficulties, with a lot of shortages, with a lot of pressure. Seven of every ten Cubans have been born under this U.S. blockade, after the Revolution.

7. Many outside of Cuba know about the great male leaders of the Revolution –Fidel, Che, Camilo. Much less is known about the women who have been part of leading this process forward. Could you tell us about some of the important women leaders in Cuba?

Maybe this is part of the stereotype. I can mention many outstanding women, like Celia Sanchez, Haydee Santamaria, Vilma Espin. There are many, many great women, and they were also in the mountains to make the Revolution. And Fidel recognized the value of women involved in the struggle. There was actually a platoon of women [in the revolutionary war]. It was called the Marianas platoon. And when some men protested that the women had weapons when they did not, Fidel defended them. They were very brave women.

Alicia Gonzalez will be speaking in Vancouver on Thursday, November 18, 7p.m. at the Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph Street at Victoria Drive).