Spanish Society: Women’s Rights, Education, and Modernization
Spanish Society: A Shift Towards Modernity
A small number of women paved the way for the future. In 1910, they obtained free access to the University. The dictatorship in 1924 granted women over 23 years old, who were independent, the right to vote in municipal elections. During the twenties, magazines, associations, and women’s clubs emerged, spreading feminist ideology.
The Influence of Krausism
In the second half of the nineteenth century and the first three decades of the twentieth century, Krausism expanded. Among the followers of this intellectual current were Francisco Giner de los Ríos and Manuel Bartolomé Cossío. They were a minority group that shared values:
- The primacy of reason
- Defense of freedom of conscience
- The worship of modern experimental science
- Tolerance
- Liberalism
- Moral austerity
- The importance of discipline and adherence to individual duty
- Optimism in human nature
- Opposition to clerical influence
- A spirituality of mystical-pantheistic nature
They believed in social harmony, the incorporation of women into education, the defense of the Europeanization of the country, the need to reform Spanish customs, and enthusiastic confidence in education and pedagogy. Some initiatives within Krausism included the creation of the Free Institution of Education in 1876, the Board for the Extension of Studies and Scientific Research (1907), the Center for Historical Studies (1910), and the Residencia de Estudiantes, founded in 1910 to improve the education of a select minority of bright students.
The Rise of Scientism and Positivism
By 1875, scientistic positivism and materialism began to be introduced in some minority intellectual circles. The reception of evolutionary theories also occurred during these years. Darwin was appointed honorary professor at the Free Institution of Education in 1877, an institution that took care to study and disseminate his main ideas.
Urban Development and Technological Advancements
Life in the capital was very different. In 1930, Madrid and Barcelona had around one million inhabitants, and eight other cities exceeded 100,000: Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Murcia, Granada, and Cordoba. This growth was due to industrial development, with the appearance of neighborhoods lacking proper living conditions, and urban development. The population increase coincided with the dissemination of information, the multiplication of means of transport, and an accelerating pace of life. Electric trams appeared, and the first subway lines were inaugurated. Electrification extended. By the end of 1920, many houses in large cities had running water, but few had a modern bathroom. Other widespread inventions included typewriters, sewing machines, coolers, and mattress springs. The telephone became widely distributed. The automobile, another great invention of the century, had a limited impact initially. Trucking companies, using vehicles with more than twenty seats, experienced faster diffusion.
The Automotive Industry and Innovation
In 1904, “Hispano-Suiza” was founded in Barcelona. The years of World War I saw production become cheaper, multiplying the number of cars.
The Impact of Cinema
Another innovation that revolutionized the lives of Spaniards was film. Its low price made it a favorite distraction of the urban middle and working classes, and soon, thanks to the newsreels, it provided additional information. The advent of talkies in 1928 ultimately cemented its success. Modern media and magazines also proliferated.
The Dawn of Radio Broadcasting
Radio came later. The first Spanish station was opened in Barcelona in 1924, offering news and, in the thirties, rallies, concerts, and more.
The “Happy Years” and Societal Changes
The so-called “happy years” only reached a part of society but brought some significant changes affecting the mentality and habits of all Spaniards.