Five years have passed since taking the helm of the Women and Equality Department of the Guanchero Council. What is your assessment of this period?
In 2019, I began my role as a councillor in the Government and ever since, I have been dedicated to promoting the different areas under my direction. Leading the Women and Equality department in a municipality like La Guancha has provided me with many positive moments, deeply personal satisfactions, discovering the issues faced by many women living here, and championing a feminist project based on respect, dialogue, and values education. The assessment I make is undeniably very positive. Alongside the technical staff and entities and groups related to our social life, we have successfully developed numerous awareness and visibility programs, strengthening the rights and opportunities of women living here, while also changing archaic thoughts and inherited customs, sweeping away sinister machismo, and empowering ourselves as active members of the society we want to live in.
What actions have you planned to highlight International Women’s Day in your municipality this year?
March in La Guancha, like the rest of the country, is the month in which we intensify our efforts to raise awareness and highlight the significant role of women in our environment. March 8 is more than just a date on the calendar; we raise our voices to loudly proclaim that we want to be free and equal, in a diverse, changing, and open society. In these early days, we have displayed the commemorative ribbon for International Women’s Day on the Town Hall facade, along with a sign announcing loud and clear that we stand for equality between men and women above all. We also organised a theatrical route in the municipality’s institute by the company Burka Theatre, an exciting journey through the history of many women who fought against injustices in the past. This Friday, we will be in San Juan de la Rambla, at the Equality March of the Northern Network, celebrating all the achievements and demanding the much-needed progress. At midday, we will be outside our Town Hall, reading the manifesto of this edition alongside students from IES La Guancha – Jerónimo Morales Barroso and users from the municipality’s Occupational Centre. This year’s activity programme includes other actions, such as a workshop on personal care, equality, and self-esteem, led by Corina Pérez; a talk given by the health psychologist, Jennifer Montesdeoca, titled “Let’s talk about menopause?”; and a series of interventions between April and June in educational centres, focusing on preventing sexist violence and promoting equality in classrooms, under the guidance of Patricia García Ojeda. Marina Marroquí Esclapez will also visit us on April 9th with her workshop “This is not love. 30 challenges to work on equality”, aimed at students from our institute.
What does the Gender Equality Municipal Network of the North of Tenerife mean for La Guancha?
It is a giant umbrella that encompasses and links the fifteen municipalities of the northern face in their equality policies, in the fight against male violence, in promoting the rights and opportunities of women, and many other challenges that we face every day. Working as a team is the best way to ensure the promotion of feminism in our society, and the Red, established in 2017, is making this possible. We are in constant contact, both with the political class and technical staff, creating spaces for training and debate, campaigns, sharing data, and demanding more investments and projects for the northern towns. The launch of the Northern Network has been a real success.
Do you feel that your town is more feminist today than five years ago?
I feel and assert this without a doubt. Look, a clear example is in the local government, with six women managing and working towards the present and future of La Guancha. This is not about discriminating against men; it is about showing and proving that we too can be the majority, not just the men. In the past, this would have been unthinkable.
What role do educational institutions play in your feminist policies?
A crucial role; without them, it would not be possible to organise and implement all the training, prevention, and visibility actions we carry out from the Town Hall. I have excellent relationships with both schools and the institute, which makes it easy to constantly design, propose, and sign agreements, always thinking about the benefits that our projects bring to local students, especially our children and young people.
Is the position of women in the economic sectors of the municipality significant at this time?
Certainly, especially in the business and commercial sector. Guanchera women also venture out. The small industrial representation we have in Santa Catalina includes women in key positions. The same goes for the agricultural sector, in the portfolio of professional services, and in many other work and economic management spaces. We are a feminist, progressive, and modern municipality in terms of gender equality.
What do you think when some people say that small towns on the island still have a higher percentage of cases of discrimination based on gender?
To those people, I say that our task is to redouble efforts, projects, and investments to ensure in all local actions that equality is practiced in all its aspects, without exceptions. This statement is not true nor is it based on any scientific or rigorous study reflecting the reality of the island. Here, we are constantly evolving because we are a very small island, so it cannot be stated that one population centre has more sexist cases than another simply because it is a town and not a city. My neighbours are as supportive of equality as the residents in the Capital.
And does the municipal staff have your support in different projects in favour of equality and women’s rights?
I have always felt very supported by them. They are a fundamental part of the work we do. Their advice, support, and technical expertise back up every step we take, especially in campaigns and programs of great sensitivity like those related to November 25th or the current one, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. We make a great team, and I am very proud to be a part of it.
