When it comes to love and gender relations, Spain is a land of contrasts. It is one of the most progressive countries in Europe in terms of social mores and the rights of women and minorities. But it also remains deeply rooted in its Catholic tradition, where these developments are fuelling a resurgence of conservative rhetoric..
Sexual liberation, trans rights, menstrual leave,… Spain is at the vanguard in liberal reforms. Since the Socialists came to power, the country has adopted a series of progressive laws that have made headlines all over the world. In Barcelona, Alicia embodies a generation of young people who see nightlife as a space of freedom. Amid parties, romance, and very open friendships, she asserts her right to live without taboos, in the face of judgments that still too often stigmatize women’s behaviour. This generation is embodied by the feminist influencer Noemí Casquet, a proponent of polyamory and freedom in every sense.
But Catholic Spain is still very much alive. Don Fernando, the ‘Tinder Priest,’ organizes dating events for single Catholics and personally orchestrates the matchmaking. For this self-proclaimed matchmaker, love is above all a way to re-evangelize Spain, as the number of practicing Catholics continues to decline. Spain now has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. Young couples struggle to become financially independent; people are marrying later and later and many face difficulties having children. This is a godsend for the assisted reproduction industry: more than 10% of Spaniards were born through assisted reproduction.
In response to this liberalization, the extreme right are gaining ground, particularly on social media. Led by increasingly young influencers, they advocate a regressive view of gender relations and call for a return to traditional values – a narrative that is gaining more and more traction, especially among young people.
Between absolute freedom, deeply rooted traditions, and changing family structures, this is a portrait of a country where love is reinventing itself in all its forms.