00:00 The huge outcry in Spain over Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales' forcible kiss of World
00:05 Cup player Jenny Hermosa has put a spotlight on the dwindling power of male chauvinism
00:11 in a country that's become a benchmark for feminism.
00:15 Rubiales is still defending what he called a "little peck," but he has been asked
00:20 to resign.
00:21 Here's more from the Spanish sports minister.
00:24 It's over, no more discrimination for women, no more obstacles for women in sport.
00:30 It's over.
00:31 It's over and unfortunately that happened because of an incident that should not have
00:35 taken place.
00:36 We are witnessing a real social and sporting backlash which will make this a better country.
00:40 Well, to get a bit more analysis now, let's bring in Maria Martinez Bascuñan.
00:46 You're a professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid where you specialize in feminist
00:51 political theory and the study of populism.
00:54 Thank you for joining us.
00:55 What do you think?
00:56 Is there going to be a real social and sporting backlash as we just heard the sports minister
01:00 say?
01:01 Yes, I am totally with the minister.
01:05 What happened last week was an epochal moment that will have important repercussions.
01:11 We have called this moment as the Spanish #MeToo moment, but we have our own hashtag
01:19 #SeAcabó, which in Spanish means it's over.
01:25 Those words were used by Alexia Butelas and other FIFA Women's World Cup champions on
01:30 social media just before all of them announced they will not return to play for the national
01:37 team in the current leadership remaining in place.
01:41 So #SeAcabó was also used by women speaking up about abuse they have experienced.
01:48 So yes, I think this unwanted kiss has set off a momentous national debate about feminism,
01:54 equality and abuse.
01:57 So far, though, Rubiales has still refused to resign, even though he's been ordered to.
02:01 He says it was just a little peck.
02:04 Are there many people in Spain who still believe him, who still back him?
02:10 I don't think so.
02:11 I think this feeling is a majority feeling in Spain.
02:17 Let's be clear.
02:18 The unwanted kiss was an abuse of power and a shameful eclipsing of the women's moment
02:25 of glory.
02:26 And that happened by the country's stubborn, evading culture of machismo.
02:31 However, we should focus on the immediate condemnation of Mr. Rubiales, even by members
02:37 of Spain's main conservative party, because that reflects how far the country's feminist
02:44 movement has come.
02:46 In the last 20 years, Spain has been a pioneer in gender inequality legislation.
02:53 In 2020, in 24, we recognized domestic violence as gender based violence.
03:00 And in 2022, after a horrific gang rape, the government passed a law that classifies any
03:08 non-consensual sex as rape.
03:11 So the backlash to the kiss by Mr. Rubiales showed that the country has no intention of
03:17 backsliding.
03:18 Absolutely.
03:19 But would you say that situation for women has improved across the country or are there
03:25 certain regions of Spain where things maybe perhaps aren't as forward thinking?
03:29 I'm so sorry, I don't understand you.
03:33 Are there all is Spain improving, as you say, around the country or are there still parts
03:38 of Spain where perhaps things are not as advanced as they are elsewhere?
03:45 I think the most important thing is that this magnificent victory of female victories forces
03:53 us to rethink the distribution of money and power in that war.
03:58 And I think this is the most important lesson of that.
04:04 I think many things has changed in Spain for three reasons.
04:09 First, it involves a group of talented women who have been through professional trials
04:16 and personal tragedy.
04:18 So in victory, they were finally powerful enough to speak up and be really heard.
04:23 Second, society had changed.
04:25 Maybe do one more with her and then end.
04:28 Society had changed.
04:29 In Spain, case the change has been accelerated by political leaders, both male and female.
04:35 And our gender laws are among the most advanced in the West.
04:40 And third key element is our feminist movement, the pedagogical work that this movement has
04:47 done.
04:49 Is there any fear in Spain that perhaps this new feminism might be going too far, that
04:54 it might be heading into some kind of excessive, what some would call wokeism or political
04:58 correctness that, for example, some people are starting to criticize in other countries
05:02 which are quite advanced in this level, like the United States?
05:06 Well, you know, we have had the Spanish elections that rejected the anti-gender identity politics
05:14 of the far right.
05:18 So Spain's establishment is clearly picking a side, leaving politicians on the left and
05:24 right, the country's top cultural figures and even an increasing number of voices from
05:30 within the sexism culture of Spanish football has rallied to support Mrs. Hermoso.
05:38 So I think, as I said, it's over in Spain and this is going to be very important implications.
05:50 All right, Mariam, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to us.
05:53 Martinez Baskinan is speaking to me there. Thank you very much.
05:56 You're welcome.
