Women’s Role and Spain’s EU Integration: Impacts & Analysis
Changes in Spanish Society: The Role of Women
Spanish society has evolved into a prosperous society with a large middle class and consumerist habits. Social values have also changed:
- Women have entered the labor market.
- Young people live at home longer and marry at a later age.
- Divorce is more common.
- New types of family units are being formed.
The Constitution recognized equality between men and women, which changed the legal rights of women during Franco’s regime, when women were subjected to male supervision.
New laws:
- Legalization of abortion (1989)
- Strategies to prevent domestic violence (since 1998)
- Law of gender equality (2007)
Certain sectors of society still treat women unequally:
- Fewer women than men occupy the highest positions of responsibility in companies.
- At home, women often take on the majority of domestic responsibilities.
Domestic violence is a serious social problem, and the stereotyping of women as sexual objects in the media and in advertising does not help to change social patterns.
Spain and the European Union
Accession to the European Union
Spain applied to join the European Economic Community after Franco’s death.
- Period of negotiation: Spain adapted its economy and laws to those of the European Community.
- Treaty of Integration (12 June 1985): Spain + Portugal
- Spain became a member (1 January 1986)
- The European Economic Community became the European Union. Other countries became members too.
Consequences of Integration
The integration of Spain into the EEC put an end to international isolation and helped to consolidate the democratic system.
Goals:
- Economy: Spanish economy had to adapt to the rest of Europe.
- Society: Spain had to confront the challenge of creating a welfare system similar to those in other European countries.
How? Spain received 180,000 million Euros from European funds.
Results:
- Economy: Spain improved its economic performance, and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) rose above the EU average in 2006.
- Society: Social projects helped the least privileged sectors such as women, young people, and unemployed people.
Spain’s Position in the European Union
Geostrategic position: Spain is a mediator between the EU and the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas because of its geographic location and past history.
Size and population:
- Spain is the 2nd largest country in the EU after France.
- 5th in population (after Germany, the UK, France, and Italy).
Participation in institutions:
- Spanish participation is active in the EU institutions.
- Important Spanish figures occupied posts of high responsibility.
Main policies:
- Introduction of European citizenship as supplementary to national citizenship.
- Defend the economic and social cohesion of member states.
Relative position: Until 2004, the socio-economic characteristics of Spain placed it among the least advanced countries of the Union. Its relative position changed with the integration of new members (2004 and 2007) because these had lower socio-economic positions.