page_title: Women on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War
section_title: Women's rights
hierarchical_section_title: Women on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War / Second Spanish Republic (1931 - 1937) / Women's rights
caption_attribution_description: Español: Sello conmemorativo de la apertura de las Cortes Constituyentes, franquicia postal, República Española, 1931
context_page_description: Women on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War came from a culture and historical background that traditionally saw the role of women being defined by the Catholic Church. Prior to the founding of the Second Republic, women had few rights and were often under the control of their fathers or husbands. Their role in the state was to be a good mother, and the framework of the state supported that. They had few employment opportunities, were largely illiterate and their children often died during childbirth. Political activism was often based around Catholic organized women's groups. The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera saw women enlisted on electoral rolls for the first time, as well as being allowed to run for municipal political office and appointed to the national congress by 1927.
  The birth of the Second Republic in 1931 saw the rights of women expand, including the granting of the right to vote. Many on the left opposed this, believing women would support right-wing candidates as they remained under the influence of the Catholic Church and their husbands.
context_section_description: Universal suffrage was finally achieved in December 1931.
  Legal equality for women was opposed by many on Spain's right. They saw it as a degeneration of Spain, which would result in the destruction of the Spanish family. This tension about the rights of women was part of their tension over the existence of the Republic, and one of the reason they were opposed to it.
caption: A postage stamp by issued by Correos during the Second Republic honoring women in the 1931 Cortes Constituyentes.
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