“Today we send an international message of support to all women who are fighting for their sexual and reproductive rights.”
– Equality Minister Irene Montero
Thykjaer, Christina, et al. “In Europe’s First, Spain Aims to Introduce Paid Menstrual Leave.” Reuters, 17 May 2022.
In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to take the time to write about Equality Minister Irene Montero, a feminist and psychologist. She has held office since 2020, and since then has made numerous advances in helping Spain fight gender inequality. Prior to holding office, Montero was a Spanish psychologist, obtaining a master’s degree in educational psychology. She is currently a doctoral student at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid while balancing life as a mother and politician.
On February 9, 2023, A historical milestone for women was made.
The Spanish Parliament granted legislation entitling women to paid menstrual leave! Spain joins Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Zambia in the historical fight for women’s reproductive rights.
The new legislation allows women to take up to five days of menstrual leave per month. Montero states that “Without a doubt, I believe that the function of government is to consolidate public policy, the rights that the feminist movement, that women, are winning.”
Legislation in regards to reproductive rights has also expanded under Montero. 16-17 year olds now have the ability to seek an abortion without consent from a parental figure. Menstrual products are now being offered for free in facilities such as incarceration centers and schools. Birth control and emergency contraception are also free.
Expanded rights for the LGBTQ+ community have also been made possible under Montero’s legislation. This is due to the XIV Legislature Bill, a “Bill for the real and effective equality of trans people and for the guarantee of the rights of LGBTQ+ people.” Before this law was in effect, the process of transgender people who sought to change their gender marker on their identification documents included a medical diagnosis of ‘gender dysphoria’ and two year medical treatment. The new law diminishes these requirements entirely.
The “Only Yes Means Yes” Law was passed in August 2022. This law was written in response to the “wolf pack” case in 2018 when the Spanish courts ruled that nonconsenual sex was not rape. The law now upholds that verbal consent must be the main component in alleged sexual assault cases.
She continues to help combat issues such as domestic violence. Since 2003, data has shown that over 1,188 women have died from their current or former male partners. This past January, Montero called for an essential meeting to propose housing and financial support to victims of domestic abuse.
Montero continues to strive for a better future for all women in Spain. She has become an international phenomenon in the feminist movement. She is currently one of my biggest inspirations for this month. Who is your inspiration for this Women’s History Month?