On March 8th, Raúl Castro extended his well wishes to Cuban women with "a hug and a kiss" for "all they have done and will do," even as the island grapples with extended power outages.
The message, shared on Facebook by the Cuban Presidency, read: "On their international day, we salute our exemplary women, acknowledging their dedication, participation, and continuous contribution to the revolutionary work. For all they have done and will do, a hug and a kiss."
Social media users quickly reacted with criticism. "I don't want to contribute anything to the revolution. I want freedom for Cuba, LONG LIVE FREE CUBA!" one Cuban woman responded.
Another commented on the "disrespect" of how women in Cuba are left to endure such hardships.
Public Backlash to Díaz-Canel's Message
President Miguel Díaz-Canel's message for International Women's Day, shared on official social media profiles, sparked a wave of reactions on March 8th. In a country facing an unprecedented systemic crisis, the responses were mostly critical, ironic, and openly dismissive of the stark contrast between official rhetoric and the harsh reality experienced by millions of Cuban women.
In one message, Díaz-Canel claimed that engaging with Cuban women "always elevates and emancipates," praising their "achievements" in the so-called "revolution."
Another post highlighted that "the light of our days owes much to women: sensitivity, talent, and commitment to the nation's fate," accompanied by a feature on a female scientist in the photovoltaic field.
However, the government's focus on "light," "sensitivity," and "achievements" clashed with the dark humor and outrage expressed in numerous comments. Many were centered on the everyday struggles with power outages, food scarcity, water shortages, and the severe hardships that women face.
The most frequent, yet devastatingly simple question was: "What light?"
Lis Cuesta Faces Criticism After Her Greeting
Lis Cuesta, wife of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, faced backlash after acknowledging the "hard times" in her March 8th greeting to Cuban women. "Congratulations to Cuban women, a special kiss to my MOTHER, founder of the FMC, who taught me to love VILMA; also to my fellow cause companions, my FEDERATED FRIENDS. Hard times are upon us, but without you, they'd be worse," Cuesta stated on X.
Responses came swiftly. "Cuban women don't need your congratulations; we need a dignified life," a Cuban woman demanded.
Others used the opportunity to remind her that her husband's time in power seems to be ticking down. "When shame is scarce, this happens: many congratulations, few actions. Since you love Vilma, ask her spirit why your husband and the murderous regime's actions have brought such hard times, which you'll soon experience yourselves. We promise," an online user remarked.
"Oh Machi, enjoy the little time you have left; see how Silita went from luxury to a cell, hahahaha bye, you were loved. We'll miss your love poems," another quipped.
Public Reactions to Government Messages on Women's Day
What was the public's reaction to Raúl Castro's message?
Many Cubans criticized Raúl Castro's message, expressing their desire for freedom rather than contributions to the revolution, highlighting the disconnect between official messages and the realities faced by women in Cuba.
How did people respond to Díaz-Canel's Women's Day message?
Díaz-Canel's message was met with irony and criticism, as many found the emphasis on achievements and sensitivity out of touch with the daily struggles of Cuban women, such as power outages and scarcity.
What did Lis Cuesta say in her Women's Day greeting?
Lis Cuesta acknowledged the "hard times" and sent a special greeting to Cuban women, including her mother and fellow federated friends, but was criticized for the lack of substantive actions to improve their situation.