ABSTRACT
AsacontemporaryNorthAmericanfeministandpoliticalscientist travellinginSpainbetween1979and1982,Iconfrontedrepeatedly, thoughinoftenunexpectedways,someofthemoreremarkable legaciesoftheFrancoera:notonlythevirtualabolitionofcertaintypes ofpoliticalmemory,butalsoadramaticdisjunctionbetweenthe perceptions(andself-perceptions)ofthosewhowereactiveinthe socialrevolutionarymovementsofthe1930sandthoseofcontemporary politicalactivists.Thephenomenonwasparticularlystronginthecase oftwogroupsofwomenwhoactedunderthenameMujeresLibres: theveteranas(oldones,orveterans)whohadbeenmilitantsinthe organizationofthatname,foundedbyanarchistwomenin1936,and activeuntiltheendofthecivilwar,andthej6venes(theyoungones) who,whetherinanactofsolidarityorinanefforttoendowthemselves withapoliticalpast,tookthenameoftheorganizationwhenthey begantomobilizethemselvesintofeministgroupsafterthedeathof Franco.Despitewhatseemedtome,atleast,wonderfulpossibilities forpoliticalengagementacrossthegenerationalbarriers,andfor translatingthelessonsofhistoryintothepresent,thetwogroups proved-withafewminorexceptions-unabletoworktogetherand, beyondthat,virtuallyunableeventotalkwithoutdegeneratinginto mutualrecriminationsandmisunderstandings.
