Maite
Spain, under Franco’s regime, developed a macho and paternalistic culture in which women, in their roles as mothers and housewives, were relegated to the domestic space. Their sexuality was reduced to reproductive ends and, lesbian or not, they had to marry and found a family. Therefore, the majority of lesbian women who are today above 60 or so, in their young hood got married and had children. Some managed to free themselves from this heterosexual model imposed by society and started to live in a homosexual couple. However to the outside world there were just “friends” or cousins. Within private spaces and in their immediate surroundings, they developed a life in accordance with their orientation and interests, while in public spaces they were invisible. Many older lesbian women follow this model of life still today, which explains their reluctance to speak out publicly.