Women and the Sandinistas

Women have played key roles in many twentieth century revolutionary movements. A prime example is Nicaragua, whose Sandinista rebels, both men and women, forced President Anatasio Somoza to resign and flee the country in 1979. With the removal of Somoza, the Sandinistas were faced with organizing a government that would continue to have the support of most Nicaraguans, while fighting small, well-armed forces that remained loyal to Somoza. Eventually, the Sandinistas were ousted from power. The inability of the Sandinista regime to develop a feminist agenda was a leading factor that led to the failure of this post-revolutionary government.

Women were represented in large numbers in the Sandinista guerrilla movement partly because of economic conditions in Nicaragua under Somoza. By the late 1970s, the country had been ruled by the Somoza family for more than 40 years. Members of the family merely re-elected themselves to the presidency when their terms of office ended or perpetrated gross electoral fraud when elections were held. Anastasio Somoza took over the presidency in 1967. As president and head of the National Guard, Somoza increased his family's wealth substantially. Somoza's associates, supporters, and corporate leaders profited from this unethical economic regime, but the rest of the population became increasingly poor. Women bore the brunt of the poverty: "The extensive involvement of women in the revolutionary process was in part the result of their i

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er stopped her" (Meiselas, 1981, p. 82). Women risked their lives in the revolution in various ways. When the Sandinistas succeeded in their struggle, it selected people from within its ranks, together with other anti-Somoza organizations, to form a ruling political faction. In their first few years in power, the Sandinistas' main goals were to raise the standard of living and to make everyone more equal by redistributing the country's wealth. The task was formidable: "In 1979, when the revolutionaries came down from the mountains and assumed power, they were faced with the overwhelming task of rebuilding a bankrupt and spent country" (Heyck, 1990, p. 16). Immediately after taking office, the Sandinistas began giving land to peasants so that they could grow enough food for their families. The next step was the nationalization of private industries. The economy took a slight upward turn when the Sandinistas began controlling agricultural exports, banking and finance, insurance, and mining. Businesses and farms owned by private citizens not affiliated with Somoza were allowed to continue normal operations. During its early years, the Sandinista government recognized the important role women played in the revolution and

Category: Foreign - W