Women And Writing in the “Spanish Half-Century”

Female Characters in the Stories of Ana María Matute, Carmen Martín Gaite and Josefina Aldecoa

Abstract

Literature has served as a crucial space for the representation and questioning of gender models, particularly in ideologically controlled contexts like Francoist Spain. The official discourse promoted an image of women confined to traditional values, limiting their role to the domestic sphere and elevating an idealized femininity based on obedience and self-sacrifice. However, in the narrative of the mid-20th century, several women writers challenged these precepts through the creation of female characters that broke free from the imposed molds.

This article presents a critical and discursive analysis of selected short stories by Carmen Martín Gaite, Josefina Aldecoa, and Ana María Matute, three authors born in the 1920s who represent the first significant generation of female narrators in Spain. Their stories move away from the stereotypes of the "novela rosa" and question the norms imposed by Francoism, particularly regarding gender identity and the role of women in society. Through the examination of these stories, the article explores how these authors give voice to their female characters, challenging patriarchal restrictions and proposing new representations of femininity in a context of censorship and ideological surveillance.