Descocadas, Marimachos, Sinsombrero. Hiding and trivializing intellectual work when its author is a woman

Abstract

Introduction: This text reflects on the awakening of the female intelligentsia in Spain in the 20th century and how women in higher education were marginalised and silenced, despite their growing presence. Methodology: Through historical analysis, the impact of the Burell law, the Residencia de Señoritas, and the social and political processes during the 2nd Republic, the Civil War and the democratic transition on the image and work of university women is observed. Results: It is highlighted that, although democracy and the Transition opened doors for female emancipation, intellectual women, such as the Sinsombrero women, are still recognised mainly for their aesthetic facet, leaving their intellectual achievements in the shadows. Conclusions: The article underlines how the history of these women has been manipulated and adapted, questioning the current narrative of a society that considers itself egalitarian and feminist. The work of these women intellectuals continues to be invisibilised in contemporary discourse.