For women in Cuba, a kiss, a hug, or a congratulation on March 8th, International Women's Day, is not enough. They must be recognized every day for making a difference in our country and for being the pillars of family and the Revolution that they are.
José Martí was right when he wrote: “The campaigns of nations are only weak when the heart of woman is not enlisted; but when it stirs and helps, when woman, timid and quiet by nature, encourages and applauds, when cultured and virtuous woman anoints the work with the honey of her affection, the work is invincible.”
And Martí clarified his opinion on the role of women in building the new Cuba when he stated: “We men have much to do to deserve these women; they have much to do to please the homeland that looks upon them.”
One need only look around us today to see women often in a majority presence in important political and state positions, in the economy, health, science and technology, education, politics, diplomacy, parliament, mass organizations, defense and security agencies—in short, everywhere.
When we saw our female scientists leading or participating in the development of vaccines against the Covid-19 pandemic, women in the red zones caring for those sick with this contagious virus, and we see them in defense, operating heavy equipment in the mining industry, locomotives, airplanes, or ships, teaching classes or master's programs, and leading key sectors of the country, we will undoubtedly have to remember Fidel Castro from the founding days in the Sierra Maestra and the creation of the "Marianas."
This conviction was developed by our Commander-in-Chief after the triumph of 1959 when, at a Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women, he proclaimed: “Women constitute a true army in the service of the Revolution… Woman is a Revolution within the Revolution. When men fight in a nation and women can fight as well, these nations are invincible, and the women of these nations are invincible.”
He then added: “…Because when our Revolution is judged in the years to come, one of the issues by which we will be judged will be how we have resolved, in our society and in our homeland, the problems of women, even though it is one of the problems of the Revolution that requires the most tenacity, the most firmness, the most perseverance, and the most effort.”
To conclude this idea, Fidel stated: “The revolution has in Cuban women today a true army, an impressive political force. Today it is a reality that has taken hold and will continue to do so, especially given that women constitute the majority of the forces, whose qualities are increasingly undeniable,” and the Cuban people corroborate this reality every day because we live it.
It is impossible not to highlight the simultaneous nature of women's social and family lives, where they are wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, and friends. They still bear the brunt of raising children and doing housework, despite the Family Code's call to share these tasks, which women often assume after a workday equal to that of men.
For all these reasons, on this day we not only congratulate women, but also, along with the kiss, the flower and the applause, we express our admiration, affection and respect for the role they have played, play and will always play in the consolidation of the family and the construction of the socialist homeland, for the Cuban people's devotion to the full dignity of man. Techniques, and a growing majority whose talent is becoming increasingly evident, whose qualities are becoming ever more unquestionable,” and the Cuban people corroborate this reality every day because we live it.
It is impossible not to highlight the simultaneous nature of women's lives, balancing their social and family lives, where they are wives, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, and friends. They still bear the brunt of raising children and managing household chores, despite the Family Code's call to share these tasks, which women often assume after a workday equal to that of men.
For all these reasons, on this day we not only congratulate women, but also, along with kisses, flowers, and applause, express our admiration, affection, and respect for the role they have played, play, and will always play in strengthening families and building the socialist homeland, for the Cuban people's deep respect for the full dignity of humankind.