Women in Opus Dei: Catholic context, speech gender and achievements
Dr. Mercedes Montero coordinated a panel on women in Opus Dei during the 6th lecture of the European Academy of Religion at the University of St. Andrews.
28 | 06 | 2023
The University of St. Andrews, Scotland, was the venue for the 6th Conference of European Academy of Religion, organized by the European Academy of Religion, held June 19-23. In this edition, the central topic was "Religion from within". One of the panels was "Women in Opus Dei: Catholic Context, Gender Discourse and Achievements" coordinated by Dr. Mercedes Montero.
The panel focused on the role of women within Opus Dei and included the participation of a group of female researchers. Inmaculada Alva (CEJE), offered a discussion paper entitled "Women and Catholicism during the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939): An overview". Alva made a tour of the main Catholic initiatives of the 1930s, some with a marked feminist character, which sought to support the promotion of women, access to Education and work on equal terms.
For her part, Ana Escauriaza Escudero (UNAV), presented her work graduate "Life story: a woman of Opus Dei in post-war Spain". Her exhibition focused on Aurora Nieto, a woman who, after being widowed and living through the Spanish post-war period, met the founder of Opus Dei, Josemaría Escrivá, in Salamanca. Escauriaza analyzed Aurora Nieto's life staff and family life, her vocation and her influence on other women of the time.
Inmaculada Alva, Mercedes Montero and Beatriz Comella-Gutierrez
Beatriz Comella-Gutierrez (UNED), presented the discussion paper "Personal, educational and professional profiles of the women of Opus Dei (1939-1962)". Comella offered a summary of the educational levels and professional fields in which Opus Dei women worked during the first Franco regime in Spain. She also highlighted the existence of women's support networks through correspondence, shared experiences and periodic assemblies.
Finally, Mercedes Montero presented her paper work "Women of Opus Dei in the academic world and in the intellectual field (1943-1983)". In her presentation, she made a prosopographical analysis of a group of women of Opus Dei who gained access to Chairs universities in Spain between 1970 and 1983. Montero placed these women within the context of pioneering women teachers in Spain.
In addition to this panel, the Conference of European Academy of Religion included other sessions from work comprising open and closed panels, book presentations and keynote lectures, all focused on the general topic of the lecture: religion from within.
