Women in revolutionary Nicaragua Sandinista National Liberation Front

the women of nicaragua prior to, during , after revolution played prominent role within nation s society have commonly been recognized, throughout history , across latin american states, backbone. nicaraguan women therefore directly affected of positive , negative events took place during revolutionary period. victory of sandinista national liberation front (fsln) in 1979 brought major changes , gains women, in legislation, broad educational opportunities, training programs working women, childcare programs women enter work force , increased participation , leadership positions in range of political activities. this, in turn, reduced burdens women of nicaragua faced prior revolution. during sandinista government, women more active politically. large majority of members of neighborhood committees (comités de defensa sandinista) women. 1987, 31% of executive positions in sandinista government, 27% of leadership positions of fsln, , 25% of fsln s active membership women.

supporters of sandinistas see era characterized creation , implementation of successful social programs free , made available entire nation. of more successful programs women implemented sandinistas in areas of education (see; nicaraguan literacy campaign), health, , housing. providing subsidies basic foodstuffs , introduction of mass employment contributions of fsln. sandinistas particularly advantageous women of nicaraguan promoted progressive views on gender 1969 claiming revolution abolish detestable discrimination women have suffered regard men , establish economic, political , cultural equality between men , women. evident fsln began integrating women ranks 1967, unlike other left-wing guerilla groups in region. goal not reached because roots of gender inequality not explicitly challenged. women s participation within public sphere substantial, many took part in armed struggle part of fsln or part of counter-revolutionary forces.

nicaraguan women organized independently in support of revolution , cause. of organizations socialist party (1963), federación democrática (which support fsln in rural areas), , luisa amanda espinoza association of nicaraguan women (asociación de mujeres nicaragüenses luisa amanda espinosa, amnlae). however, since daniel ortega, defeated in 1990 election united nicaraguan opposition (uno) coalition headed violeta chamorro, situation women in nicaragua altered. in terms of women , labor market, end of 1991 amnlae reported 16,000 working women—9,000 agricultural laborers, 3,000 industrial workers, , 3,800 civil servants, including 2,000 in health, 800 in education, , 1,000 in administration—had lost jobs. change in government resulted in drastic reduction or suspension of nicaraguan social programs, brought burdens characteristic of pre-revolutionary nicaragua. women forced maintain , supplement community social services on own without economic aid or technical , human resource.