The group wants to “empower women so they don’t feel alone against abuse. Something that we have already achieved is that every day a woman is waking up and realizing she is being abused. Many of them are adopting a fighting spirit because now they are not alone.” Blas says that while the group does not have a very formal structure it is already beginning to have an impact. The group wants to “empower women so they don’t feel alone against abuse. The fact we exist is already instilling fear in those who have something to hide."

In Cádiz, an initiative called Carnaval Feminista has sprung up on social media. “We are a movement seeking to evidence sexism in the lyrics [of carnival songs], whether explicit or there inadvertently. We are tired of sexism, so we are also tired of sexism in the Carnival,” reads a statement by Carnaval Feminista, whose members remain anonymous. This group has been analyzing the lyrics of songs that were submitted to the Official Competition of Carnival Groups (COAC). According to the official website, 138 groups will be performing this year in the preliminary round.

Conservative politicians in Madrid have condemned the decision to cast two women and a celebrated drag queen as an alternative "Three Wise Men" in a local Epiphany parade. The trio will star on one of 16 floats at the event in the Puente de Vallecas district on 5 January. Drag queen La Prohibida will be joined by cabaret dancer Roma Calderón and hip hop singer Dnoé Lamiss. The three will be dressed as stuffed animals in pyjamas.

Protesters held signs reading "how many more must die," shouting "they're not deaths, they're murders." "I want to show how much I reject the situation in this country," said Jorge Aranda, 40, who works in a health centre, pointing to the 45 deaths this year alone. "This is unacceptable."

Feminism is one of the central pillars around which a new Catalan republic would be built, CUP proponents and many independence-minded feminists say. Practically speaking, feminist governance would mean having more women in office to make sure policy bears women in mind, such as prioritizing the elimination of gender violence and making sure women’s work isn’t relegated to home and child care.

“If women are part of this reconstruction of a state, we can achieve more egalitarian change,” added Laura, an organizer at her neighborhood’s feminist collective. “We’re not saying Catalonia is better than Spain. This is an opportunity to change things. And what happens here will reverberate throughout Spain.