Women and Work in Cuba

Book excerpt: This exploratory study examines how structural conditions and policies in Cuba, which have attempted to implement socialist ideology on gender equality, actually impinge on the everyday lives and perceptions of Cuban women. The paper first outlines the theoretical premises on which socialist policies on work and family were formulated and then presents data on four areas of contemporary state policy with regard to goals and implementation toward increasing women's opportunities. The second section of the paper presents data from in-depth interviews with 61 female factory workers. The results indicate that there are specific structural features that hinder the liberation of Cuban women. The interview data reveal the specific interaction of social class on perceptions of work-family linkages and women's liberation.