The bad luck of having been born woman
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Every day, when coming home from work, the grandfather sat down in his armchair and told his granddaughter to bring him his slippers. A little while later he wanted her to open the fridge and give him this and bring him that, to fetch this and look for that. One day the granddaugher asked the grandfather: “Why don´t you fetch it yourself?“, whereupon the grandfather answered, without thinking it twice:“ My poor girl, you have the bad luck of being born woman.“ The grandfather was right. In those times most women were still following the men´s orders.
More and more girls finished higher secondary education, passed the extremely difficult access to university and started a university degree. There were already female lawyers, doctors and pharmacists, but working as a professional was still considered abnormal and was a sign of economical necessity. Consequently, the girl´s desire to go to Madrid and study architecture, was answered by a clear no. “You don´t need to study and earn money. Your godfather´s inheritence will allow you a more than comfortable life.“ That´s why the girl stayed at home, married, got children and continued to obey mens´orders..
Lots of years later, when already a grandmother of two granddaughters, she met a German. They got close friends and the German soon was part of the family ........till a horrible tragedy – or was it a tragicomedy?- happened. The German had dared to suggest her friend to embark on a trip to Germany. The opportunity couldn´t be better: Go, by car, with the German´s daughter and return, in a fortnight, with the German´s son.
A trip to Germany, the country of heresy, of trafficking of girls and of immoral life!!
The husband threatened throwing himself on the ground, out of the window or from the balcony, he wanted to get divorced, and the German wasn´t allowed to enter the house. Only after the trip´s cancellation, normality returned. The friends, however, continued planning their trip.
Two years later there was another opportunity. The husband´s best friend allowed his wife to accompany the friends. That´s why this time the husband had to allow the trip. Off went the three girls, the German by bus, the Spanish by plane. Or?? To be honest, it was a bit strange that the friend´s wife never was seen on the photoes, but it was she, who made them and, besides, the poor girl had suddenly got serious problems with a tooth, and, of course, nobody likes being photographed with a swollen cheek.
Our girl had a great time in Germany. She visited castles, cathedrals and picturesque spots, she walked across green countrysides and dark forests, she tasted typical dishes, got acquainted with different customs, ideas and points of view, and two weeks later she returned save, chaste and untouched by the dreadful and frivelous Germany, to her husband´s arms.
Lots of things have changed since then. In the meantime Spain is considered to be one of the most progressive European countries when it comes to equality between men and women, though there is still much to do.
And that´s the end of my true and not invented story about a time not very long gone by.
Every day, when coming home from work, the grandfather sat down in his armchair and told his granddaughter to bring him his slippers. A little while later he wanted her to open the fridge and give him this and bring him that, to fetch this and look for that. One day the granddaugher asked the grandfather: “Why don´t you fetch it yourself?“, whereupon the grandfather answered, without thinking it twice:“ My poor girl, you have the bad luck of being born woman.“ The grandfather was right. In those times most women were still following the men´s orders.
More and more girls finished higher secondary education, passed the extremely difficult access to university and started a university degree. There were already female lawyers, doctors and pharmacists, but working as a professional was still considered abnormal and was a sign of economical necessity. Consequently, the girl´s desire to go to Madrid and study architecture, was answered by a clear no. “You don´t need to study and earn money. Your godfather´s inheritence will allow you a more than comfortable life.“ That´s why the girl stayed at home, married, got children and continued to obey mens´orders..
Lots of years later, when already a grandmother of two granddaughters, she met a German. They got close friends and the German soon was part of the family ........till a horrible tragedy – or was it a tragicomedy?- happened. The German had dared to suggest her friend to embark on a trip to Germany. The opportunity couldn´t be better: Go, by car, with the German´s daughter and return, in a fortnight, with the German´s son.
A trip to Germany, the country of heresy, of trafficking of girls and of immoral life!!
The husband threatened throwing himself on the ground, out of the window or from the balcony, he wanted to get divorced, and the German wasn´t allowed to enter the house. Only after the trip´s cancellation, normality returned. The friends, however, continued planning their trip.
Two years later there was another opportunity. The husband´s best friend allowed his wife to accompany the friends. That´s why this time the husband had to allow the trip. Off went the three girls, the German by bus, the Spanish by plane. Or?? To be honest, it was a bit strange that the friend´s wife never was seen on the photoes, but it was she, who made them and, besides, the poor girl had suddenly got serious problems with a tooth, and, of course, nobody likes being photographed with a swollen cheek.
Our girl had a great time in Germany. She visited castles, cathedrals and picturesque spots, she walked across green countrysides and dark forests, she tasted typical dishes, got acquainted with different customs, ideas and points of view, and two weeks later she returned save, chaste and untouched by the dreadful and frivelous Germany, to her husband´s arms.
Lots of things have changed since then. In the meantime Spain is considered to be one of the most progressive European countries when it comes to equality between men and women, though there is still much to do.
And that´s the end of my true and not invented story about a time not very long gone by.
