Thursday,
March 24, 2005
Cultural Insights - Karla Darocas talks
about Spain -
Men, Women, Family, Church,
Even Pets
Of course you know by now that I have a true fascination for Spanish
language and culture and Spain continues to one of my favourite
destinations. Spain is a fascinating country, a modern Western European
country, anchored in a long history that was shaped by many different
cultures, first and foremost the Ancient Romans and the Moors.
This contrast between the modern and the traditional has always
fascinated me and I thought I'd ask a local to give me a bit of
an idea of what Spanish life and culture is really like today. So
here is Karla, my expatriate friend
from Ontario, providing us with her own personal and frank insights
about life in Spain:
Hi Karla, nice to talk to you again and thanks for the opportunity
to give us further insights into life in Spain.
1. Machismo is a Spanish term and most Latin countries
are known for their male-dominated attitudes. Does machismo still
exist in Spain and if so, how does it manifest itself? What is the
role of modern women in Spain, what opportunities and hurdles do
they face? What is today’s relationship between men and women
in Spain?
Machismo is a problem in Spain. The current government is taking
drastic steps to bring about solutions. Modern women have lots of
options – if they are educated… however, there is an
entire generation of women – who didn’t get an education.
Education is at the root of domestic problems all over the world
– not just in Spain.
2. Last year you launched a “Stop domestic violence
campaign” through your Women in Business Club –
www.wibc-spain.com. Please tell us a bit about the background
of that campaign and what is involved.
Women who have moved to my area were not aware of the domestic problems
of their newly adopted country. In reality I find that most people
who move to Spain don’t have any clue about the culture, history,
politics – nothing. Any way, our local government had set
up a Women’s Shelter and was running an aggressive program.
The Shelter needed help to survive finanicially. I set up a club
of women to help these women. While we were fundraising we also
raised awareness.
3. You once made an observation that pets are treated very
poorly in Spain. Please comment on that.
These problems stem from the same root – no education. Animals
are not domesticated by most Spaniards. They don’t see animals
as “pets”. There is a primitive attitude towards animals.
The don’t believe that an animal can have a spirit, hence
they treat them without respect.
This is not all of Spain, but the parts of Spain were life has
been hard. Spain has been through a lot over the past years, and
the people have had to socially reform very rapidly. There are many
in the city centers who have adjusted to a peace time lifestyle
while others in rural areas have not.
4. From what I understand, the role of the family is very
important in Spain. How does it compare to family life in North
America?
Families in Spain – well – I think they are just as
dysfunctional as any modern family anywhere in the world. I haven’t
come across a “normal” Spanish family yet.
5. Spain used to be a very religious country. What is the
role of the Catholic Church today?
I have no idea what is the role of the Church anymore. They don’t
seem to be getting their way – if that is what you mean. Same
sex marriages are going to be approved by the new government, and
already 10 day divorces are available. The Church has revoked a
bit, but not much. I guess they will have to undergo reforms –
like the rest of Spain – in order to stay in the EU.
Thank you, Karla, for your sharing your candid viewpoints with
us.
Related articles:
Interview with Karla Darocas
- Canuck Expatriate in Spain
Article preview and background information on Karla
Darocas
Click here for
my travel report from Barcelona.
Click here for
my travel report from Tarragona.
Click here for my
travel report from Javea.
Click here for
my travel report from Sitges.
Click here for
my travel report from Ibiza (1)
Click here for
my travel report from Ibiza (2)
Click here for
my travel report from Ibiza (3)
Click here for
my travel report from Ibiza (4)
Click here for my country
travel guide on Spain.
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