Feminist Teenagers Spark Change in Spanish Rape Laws

Spain has seen a new wave of feminism, with girls as young as 13 years of age participating in feminist collectives fighting for gender equality through protests, talks and performances.

“I’ve been in Spain for a little over 20 years and I’ve never seen this strong a teenage movement,” says Viviana Waisman, campaigner and founder of rights group Women’s Link. “I do think it corresponds to a global movement that’s happening.”

Spanish young women’s increased participation in feminism was triggered by a 2018 case were a gang called the “Wolf Pack” recorded themselves raping an 18-year-old girl. As Spanish law requires rape to include violence and intimation, and the girl did not resist, the judges jailed the gang for the smaller crime of sexual abuse – a verdict many found unjust.

Though the ruling was eventually overturned, a similar verdict happened again last year, when five men were not judged o have used force against raping an unconscious 14-year-old girl. This sparked another outrage, and thanks to the major protests over the verdicts, the country’s new equality minister has since promised new laws on consent.