Spain: Experiences of Women Detained Under Franco's Patronato System

Introduction

Marina Freixa's mother, Mariona Roca Tort, shared details of her adolescence during Spain's Franco dictatorship, which concluded in 1975. Approximately a decade ago, Mariona revealed to her family that she was detained in a reformatory at the age of 17 after being reported to the authorities by her parents.

The Patronato de Protección a la Mujer

Reformatories were institutions within the Patronato de Protección a la Mujer (Women's Protection Board) network. These facilities, managed by religious organizations under dictator Francisco Franco's regime, detained girls and young women who did not conform to the era's Catholic values. Categories for detention included single mothers, women with boyfriends, lesbians, and those who had experienced sexual assault. Orphans and abandoned girls were also housed in these convents.

The Patronato system had the authority to detain non-conforming women under 25, who were considered to be in need of "re-education" rather than being classified as criminals. There is currently no definitive data on the total number of institutions or individuals affected. Fifty years after Franco's death, survivors of the Patronato are advocating for an official inquiry and formal recognition as victims of the dictatorship. Spain's Minister for Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has indicated the government's openness to reviewing the Patronato survivors' cases.

Mariona Roca Tort's Experience

Mariona Roca Tort, the oldest of nine siblings, describes her parents as right-wing and ultra-Catholic, with strict conservative values, including prohibitions on wearing trousers. In 1968, at age 16, Mariona began tutoring children and attending evening university preparatory classes. During this period, she encountered individuals involved in trade unionism, left-wing politics, and anti-Franco activism. This coincided with global protests against authoritarianism and the Vietnam War, and demands for civil rights.

Mariona became involved in anti-Franco activities, participating in actions such as blocking streets, distributing leaflets, and using Molotov cocktails. In May 1969, a friend of Mariona's was arrested at a Barcelona demonstration. Concerns that the friend might identify others led Mariona to stay overnight at an activist's flat to avoid potential arrest.

Upon returning home, Mariona's parents expressed strong disapproval and increased their control over her activities, stating that her actions caused a "stain on the family." By the end of that summer, Mariona decided to leave home, traveling to Menorca with college friends and leaving a note for her parents. Her parents reported her as an underage runaway. Mariona was arrested as she prepared to board a boat back to Barcelona.

Detention and Treatment

At the Barcelona port, Mariona's parents met her and transported her directly to a convent. Days later, she was taken to a different convent in Madrid, which was part of the Patronato system under the Ministry of Justice. Mariona reports that she was placed on a floor designated for "rebellious ones" or "fallen women." Internees were permitted only simple greetings and were separated if they formed closer relationships, to prevent interaction and perceived "negative influence." Mariona estimates approximately 100 internees were present at the convent, sleeping 20 to a room with locked doors and a nun present.

The daily routine included prayers, Mass, convent cleaning, and hours spent in a workshop producing clothing for local retailers. During workshop activities, a nun would read aloud to discourage conversation. Mariona describes the environment as one of indoctrination, aimed at convincing internees that their behavior was wrong and that they should confess and seek forgiveness. Mariona states she never confessed.

After about four months, Mariona was allowed to return to Barcelona for Christmas, though she was restricted from leaving home alone. She managed to escape briefly but was swiftly returned to Madrid by her father and an uncle. Upon her return to the convent, she refused to enter and recounts being physically compelled inside and given a sedative. Other internees were warned against speaking to her due to her attempt to escape.

Mariona subsequently began refusing food, leading to significant weight loss and admission to a psychiatric clinic. There, she states she received two sessions of electric shock treatment and later, "insulin coma therapy." This therapy involved insulin injections to induce deep hypoglycemia, a coma-like state, believed to reduce psychotic symptoms and "re-set" the brain. This "therapy" was being discontinued in many countries due to its potentially lethal nature.

Mariona describes receiving daily insulin injections, followed by being brought out of the coma and encouraged to eat. She observed a decline in her mental state, marked by confusion and expressions of guilt towards her parents, a process she characterized as "submission and acceptance." Mariona believes this forced treatment permanently affected her memory, prompting her to begin keeping a diary in 1971. Despite the "treatment," Mariona did not gain weight, leading a psychiatrist to suggest tying her to the bed. Faced with severe distress, she considered suicide. She was given a target weight of 40kg (6st 4lb), with the promise of release if achieved.

Release and Advocacy

Mariona reached the target weight and was released in 1972 at the age of 20, returning to Barcelona. She resolved not to live with her parents again. She established a career as a TV director and had her own children, though her relationship with her parents remained distant. When asked about sending her to the Patronato, her mother stated, "We made a mistake," and her father, now in his 90s, said, "We suffered a lot too."

Mariona's daughter, Marina Freixa, produced a short documentary titled "Els Buits" (Catalan for "the spaces"), which chronicles her mother's experiences and references memory gaps. The film has received awards in Spain and a Goya Award nomination. Marina notes that her relationship with her grandfather has been complicated by learning her mother's story.

The documentary has contributed to a campaign for formal recognition of interned women as victims of Spain's dictatorship. Marina and Mariona are touring with the film, facilitating community screenings where other women share their stories. Marina states that the film helps convey that these experiences were "systematic" rather than isolated incidents. Mariona continues to express some doubts about her memory but finds affirmation in the film's portrayal of her experiences.