El Ojo Crítico - Aida dos Santos, Premio Nacional de Ensayo 2026 por “Hijas del hormigón”
Summary
Aida dos Santos discusses her 2026 National Essay Prize for *Hijas del hormigón*, a work exploring classism and sexism in Spanish peripheries. She explains how the book shifts focus from the traditional male worker to women in impoverished neighborhoods, challenging the myth that they did not work before the 1960s. Through interviews with a hundred women, she highlights their shared experience as the first in their families to attend university, emphasizing education as a tool for progress against systemic precarity.
Topics discussed
Introduction and congratulations on the award
Defining who the 'Daughters of Concrete' are
The daily struggle of women in impoverished neighborhoods
Influence of 'Hijos del hormigón' and gender perspective
Research process across Spain and the concept of subalternity
Reclaiming the work history of previous generations
Challenging the myth that women did not work before
Common threads: precarity and lack of statistical data
Being the first university student in the family
The role of education and class consciousness in progress
Closing remarks and thanks
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