First Women’s Brigade formed

Although men did not want women to be at the forefront of the revolution, Cuban women revolutionaries formed their first brigade to change the social roles assigned to women and men. Their decision to form a women’s brigade made their success in the revolution visible.

News Center- Radio Rebelde constantly called on people to join the revolution. People got information about the situation in Cuba through the radio station and they supported the revolutionaries. The resistance had already begun. Che Guevara, Camilo and guerillas entered Havana on January 2, 1959. They took the control of the capital. No power could prevent them anymore. No bullet was fired when they entered the city. On January 9, Fidel Castro made a speech and claimed the victory of the revolution. Women played a big role in the Cuban Revolution. They worked hard and sacrificed themselves but their names have rarely been mentioned in history. Although the patriarchal system didn’t want to show the resistance of Cuban women, women all around the world see their resistance. We don’t have more information about these untold women in history; we can only share information about them that we found in documents.

Women broke all biases against them

Haydée Santamaría and Melba Hernández were two of these women. Both women fought alongside Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolutionary war against Fulgencio Bautista. However, Fidel Castro did not want women to take part in battles and conflicts. Both women insisted on taking part in the attack on Moncada Barracks. In the end, Fidel Castro accepted their demand on the condition that they could only take part in the medical team. Between 1940 and 1960, no commanders wanted women to participate in conflict or clashes under their command. The women who took part in the Cuban Revolution gradually broke all biases against them and participated in all the works.

First women’s brigade consisting of 13 women

Women joined the guerrilla troops in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Men saw women as cookers only. Women faced many difficulties to form their own brigade. After their military training in the Sierra Mountains, the first all-women platoon called Mariana Grajales Brigade was formed. The first women’s brigade consisted of 13 female fighters.

They changed social roles

At the beginning of the Cuban Revolution, women were prevented from fighting by men. Despite all the obstacles, Cuban women wanted to take part in every part of life. Women managed to take part in education, health, judiciary, diplomacy, and battle. They demanded the change of gender roles in society. They demanded men to do housework. They demanded equality not only on the battlefields but also at home. Family law was prepared for gender equality. The aim of the women was to take their place in all areas. After the revolution, women participated in social works. The Federation of Cuban Women had approximately 70,000 members.

The success of the women's revolution

Today, 81.9 percent of teachers, university lecturers, and scientists in Cuba are women. 60% of doctors are women. 78% of health workers, 70% of prosecutors and judges, and 36% of engineers are women in the country. 41.7% of members of the Communist Party of Cuba are women. 56% of members of the parliament are women in Cuba. In the first years of the revolution, the literacy rate of girls was 56 percent, today it is 99 percent.

Tomorrow: Heroine of the Cuban Revolution: Melba Hernández