In defence of blows: heroism and violence in the discourse of Catholic women activists in Spain (1900-1936)

Catholic women activists in the first third of the 20th century frequently represented Spanish women as heirs of the most important virtues of the glorious women of Spain's past, especially those who stood out for defending their religion and fatherland in times of danger. Many Catholic women activists believed that, just like these women from the past, Spanish women in the present had to act heroically in defence of Catholicism and the fatherland when this became necessary, that is to say when government laws and civil society proposals sought to reduce the political, social and economic power of the Catholic Church. Further, some Catholic women activists argued that violence could be used as a last resort in order to defend its social and political positions.