The imagetic representation of women in Spanish Civil War posters: Perspectives from critical multiculturalism

Abstract

The Spanish Civil War marked generations of women who lived in a society struggling between conservatism and progressivism in a patriarchal and sexist society. An analysis of the conflict will be carried out between the Republican factions, who wanted to preserve the rights and new feminine identity, and the Nationalists, who sought to maintain society with its traditional structures and identities. The analysis of the conflict between Republican and Nationalist factions will be based on critical multiculturalism theory, which seeks to understand the intersection between culture, politics, and power in contemporary society, especially regarding cultural diversity and the struggle for rights and equality. This theory can help understand how cultural differences influenced power struggles in Spain at that time and how it affected women. In this context, the stereotypical and discriminatory images of women from different cultural groups were used in various media, including posters, to reinforce certain ideologies and conceptions about the role of women in society. Moreover, analyzing this conflict based on critical multiculturalism theory highlights the importance of promoting inclusion and gender equality in all spheres of society.