Fidel Castro's thoughts on the role of women in Cuban socialist society

Abstract

This study analyzes Fidel Castro's views on the role of women in Cuban socialist society, employing a dialectical-materialist approach that integrates theoretical methods—such as the historical-logical, analytical-synthetic, and inductive-deductive—and empirical methods, specifically the documentary analysis of speeches delivered between 1953 and 1980. The results demonstrate that Fidel Castro’s discourse drove profound transformations in gender ideology by promoting women's participation in education, the workforce, and leadership roles, marked by milestones such as the creation of the Federation of Cuban Women and the Literacy Campaign. The discussion highlights the coherence between his ideas and revolutionary policies, which transcended patriarchal and capitalist conceptions. The study concludes that Fidel positioned a gender perspective as a central pillar of the socialist project, achieving substantial progress in equity while acknowledging persistent cultural disparities. His legacy offers enduring lessons for building more just societies.