Back in school days, literature classes often introduced us to poetry. However, female names were seldom penned, usually relegated to serving as the persona's muse or hidden behind pseudonyms. This is when Literature marries History, where we learn about women's oppression, their voices often relegated to social sciences classes. Over recent years, global political awareness has prompted a shift in the school schedule, bringing hidden figures into the spotlight.
For those unfamiliar, it might seem irrelevant—a group of women posing together. A seemingly mundane picture, but it represents a pivotal moment in Spanish Literature, a post-war endeavour to restore and modernize society with avant-garde trends. Their name originated from a commemorative edition in honour of the 300th anniversary of the death of the Andalusian Baroque poet Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561-1627), considered a writer of 'pure poetry' from the Golden Age of Spanish Literature. The Generation of '27 was influenced by European movements such as Symbolism, Futurism, and Surrealism, mixed with Spanish tradition, fostering a carefree expressionism.
The members of the Generation of '27 include Jorge Guillén, Pedro Salinas, Rafael Alberti, Frederico García Lorca, Dámaso Alonso, Gerado Diego, Luis Cernuda, Vicente Aleixandre, Manuel Altolaguirre, and Emilio Prados. Despite differences in writing trajectories and personal preferences, they shared a tendency to reject Modernism and working-class perspectives as literary themes. They played pivotal roles in the early 1920s until the Spanish Civil War when the culture and literary of Spain wiped out, many members were tortured or exiled.
In the context of the 1920s, most women were still confined to domestic roles. The apex of the Suffragettes movement, selective studies, and destiny-bound women were emerging in pink-collar jobs—nurseries, teachers, or secretaries. Civil rights and wide access were absent without a male presence, highlighting the dominance of patriarchy evident in the list mentioned above.
A noteworthy mention is Agustina, la Zapatera, a woman ahead of her time who was tragically killed by the fascists while fighting for her early feminist ideals. Today, she is considered part of the Generation of '27. During her adolescence, she defied societal norms by dressing as a boy to pursue her interests in astronomy and medicine at an early age. A strong advocate of the suffragette movement, she played a crucial role in shaping the language of the future, introducing abbreviations used in contemporary social media. Despite facing a bad reputation in her community for going out alone and cross-dressing, she staunchly defended her freedom and championed the emancipation of women, paving the way for the new Generation of '27.
Fast forward to the present day—nearly a hundred years later—women are no longer confined to domestic roles or predetermined paths. While freedom is not total, significant strides have been made, and there are still many rights to demand in various countries and face discrimination. Women now find their voices in writing, even amidst high feminicide statistics. Internet became an accessible platform, but its lack of regulation result in violence and harassment, but the reach is big, they have a lot to say.
The contemporary literary scene in Spain is dominated by women. In the image, from left to right, we see María Gómez Lara, Raquel Lanseros, Julieta Valero, Lara Moreno, Ada Salas, Elena Medel, Ana Merino, Ángela Segovia, and Berta García Faet. The common characteristics of their work are eclecticism and pan-hispanism, illustrating the growth of women in the literary landscape of Spain as strong personas talking about identity and self-exploration, while playing with narrative devices and tackling feminism and gender issues, socio-political commentaries. They are taking advantage of some big achievements by the second wave of feminism and talking about their repressed pleasure and sexuality. Similar weapon, different voices.
However, an important highlight— the image is dominated by white figures. Spain, once a leader in colonization and exploration, still has voices waiting to be heard, especially from intersectional feminism. Perhaps in the future, a recreation of this new Generation of '27 photo could honour the present time white women and include diverse backgrounds. After all, behind a successful woman, there is a tribe of others who hold her back. Women support women.
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