CENTRE. FOR "'NEWf-OUNDLr\ t@ · STUDIES TOTAL OF 10 PAGES ONLY MAY BE XEROXED ( Without Author' s Pennission) FROM SA CRIFIC/0 TO EGOiSMO: GENERATION ' 75 IN URBAN GALICIA AND THE SPANISH FERTILITY RATE by © Amanda Lynn White A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Anthropology Memorial University ofNewfoundland September, 2000 St. John's, ewfoundland In dedication to Veronica. In memory of Dr. Richard Costello and my uncle Derek. Amistad de distancia (Long distance friendship Voz grabada Recorded voice Y papel And your uprooted pages Tuyo arrancado But so alive Pero tan vivo Like my wish Como las ganas To return De volverse To see you) Aver (Jorje Dip6lito) 11 ABSTRACT At 1.07. the Spanish fertility rate is currently one of the lowest in the world and is depicted by politicians as constituting a public 'crisis·. The fieldwork that I conducted in Lugo (Galicia) focused on local level interpretations of the fertility decline. Draw·ing on Michael Herzfeld"s concept of--cultural intimacy.. ( 1997). I explore in the first part of the thesis. the interconnection between the state·s emphasis on the ·bettering· of the nation through an increase in population numbers, and citizens· focus on the 'bettering· of children through attentive and child-centered raising practices. In the second part of the thesis. I examine the interrelation between socioeconomic changes and shifts in gender ideologies as these relate to what people frequently told me is a main reason for the decline: that young women are behaving in a ·masculine· way by displaying egoismo (selfishness or self-centeredness). I look at how young people talk about the links between notions of gender difference and the ·tow' fertility rate. l follo\v a post­ structuralist approach in my analysis ofthe cultural construction of·being selfish· which moves beyond previous research on gender in southern Europe. Moreover. I focus particularly on how y·oung women experience the public criticisms of their femininity and I ask how this relates to their sense of identity and notions of motherhood. In addition to previous anthropological work on demographic patterns and the body-politic. the analysis--through the employment of Herzfeld· s ··social poetics'· ( 1985 and 1997)--of the interplay between the ambiguous relationship of everyday practices. performances. and discourses adds context to Spain"s ·'fertility puzzle·· and people"s interpretations of it. Ill ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I have been blessed \Vith so many wonderful teachers and friends throughout my journey in anthropology. Without the teachings of Paul Morrissy who had the patience to see me through my undergraduate thesis. Richard Costello· s kind yet forthright advice about the field of anthropolog,y, and Wayne Fife's guidance during my last undergraduate year at St. Thomas University. I would probably not have sought to pursue further study in cultural anthropology. It \Vas Paul who first sought my help with the activity of marking exams. His trust in my abilities gave me the confidence \Vhich I needed to seriously entertain ideas about furthering my academic studies in anthropology. During Richard·s and my conversations about issues in anthropology and about life in general. and through his own example, I found within myself the confidence to come out from under my shell and express my ideas and arguments. Through Richard's courses. I learned about the value of pursuinJ an idea which would have the potential to develop into something tangible with thorough and rigorous work. Because of Wayne. I took the final step and made the decision to continue studies in anthropology. I cannot thank Paul. Richard. and Wayne enough for their help throughout the years. As luck would have it. during my two years at Memorial University of Nev.foundland. I received further sound guidance and encouragement from the faculty members in its department of anthropology. Rex Clark, for example, showed me ho\v to narrovv my interests down to one topic and with his help, I learned about constructive criticism. Louis Chiaramonte showed me the importance of getting to really know oneself and its role in research. Robert Paine taught me about how to debate issues in a seminar format and he opened my eyes to the importance of thoroughly developing one·s ideas. I am also grateful to Mark Tate for his advice about teaching and about the process invoh·ed in writing a thesis. His compassion during difficult times helped me to recognise that bumps are a part of the journey. Jean Briggs. Tom Nemec. and Elliott Leyton·s pleasant and invigorating discussions about their o\vn interests were welcoming parts of the overall friendly environment at MUN. In addition to my expressions of appreciation to these teachers. I further vvant to thank Marilyn Marshall. the Department's secretary. and the other graduate students for their help, friendship. and insights. Warm thanks and gratitude goes to Sharon Roseman. She kne\v ho\v far to push me in my research pursuits and when to stop. how far to give me direction and w·hen to let me learn things on my own. I could not have asked for a better mentor and thesis supervisor. Not only did Sharon share her ovvn experiences of fieldwork in Galicia with me. she also allowed me to conduct my own research in Galicia, under her SSHRC grant. Through her own example as an academic who is sensitive to the needs of others. she has instilled in me a sense of ethical consideration which transcends the guidelines for ethics in anthropology. Sharon taught me about writing. about teaching, about field\\·ork. about IV doing research: ultimately. she has inspired me to do more for both people and the field of anthropology. I \vant to thank my parents for their continual emotional and financial assistance throughout the years. Through my mother. I am learning about the importance of aligning my soul with my personality and this process is invariably expressed in some of the contents in this thesis. My father's mere presence inspires me to reach for my higher self. I also thank my sister for her lessons about life which she has taught me along the \vay. To my friends in New Brunswick. I thank them for their continual support and advice over the years (''J"ai right hiite de \'OUS VOir et d 'etre avec VOliS Cllllres COllmme Cll'CIJ1('). [ want to thank Andre Rossiter for his gift of friendship. love, and understanding throughout the years. I am also grateful for Amanda (Aimee) Eisener's academic insights and for her nurturing friendship during our growing pains at MUN. This thesis would not have been written had it not been for the help of the many people who befriended me and who assisted me in my research in Lugo. Galicia. I am very thankful to Susana de Ia Gala and Tofio for their hospitality and concern for me and my research during my tieldwork. Moreover. I am in gratitude to the many people in Lugo for their permission to conduct research with them and for their insights on my topic of inquiry. Through them, I learned about the value of feeling with one's heart and thinking less with one's head. I want to especially thank Veronica Corral Sesar for her friendship and I thank her for having shared her kno\vledge \Vith me. [can only hope that the people whom I got to know well while in Lugo are not disappointed \Vith my attempt in this thesis at balancing bet\veen el corccon and Ia cabe:::a. Of course. although I have received help throughout the research and the writing process of this thesis. ultimately all the arguments presented throughout the chapters are my own. \' LIST OF MAIN PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH Alba: A 26 year old undergraduate forestry student whom I got to kno\v well w·hile living in one of the university"s residences. She has three younger siblings. Antonia: A 24 year old female graduate student from the city ofLugo. Through her. I 'vvas introduced to members of her pandilla (group of friends). Carlos: A 36 year old restaurant owner. He has been with the same woman for eighteen years and does not plan to marry or have any children. Carmen: A 24 year old female graduate student w·hom I lived vvith in an apartment durinQ:- half of mv.. fieldw·ork in the citv.. of LuQ:o.- She is the eldest of two children. I make frequent reference to Carmen throughout this thesis. Delia: An ama de casa (stay-at-home mother) with three children in their early and mid twenties. Enrique: A 24 year old man from the city of Lugo. He is a member of Antonia· s pandilfa. He has been in a long term relationship and rarely brings his girlfriend out with the pandilla. Fatima: A university student with whom r lived in the city of Lugo. She is Carmen ·s younger sister. She has a boyfriend whom I also introduce in this thesis. Julio: He is from the same industrial tovm as Carmen and his girlfriend, Fatima. He has been in a romantic relationship with Fatima for approximately one y·ear. They are both in their early twenties. Lucia: A close friend ofFatima·s. She is from the same industrial town in the province of A Corufia as Carmen and Fatima. Maria: She and her husband own a business together in the city of Lugo. She has lived in the city of Lugo all of her life. She has a five year old son and is in her mid thirties.