The celebration of Holy Week in Sagunto has been described as a success by regional media, despite the controversy generated by a brotherhood's refusal to accept women among its members. This decision, occurring for the third time, has led to a discussion about discrimination and the need to moderate critical tones.
The situation has placed Sagunto on the media map, not for its excellences, but for what is considered a shameful act: blatant discrimination that has become a public spectacle. The discussion has focused on tradition as an argument to justify exclusion, a resource often used to maintain privileges or violate rights.
The violation of women's rights cannot be whitewashed, nor can it be allowed to receive any kind of public support, whether economic or logistical. No organization—religious or secular—should be allowed to disregard decades of struggle for equality with total impunity.
The exclusion of women is not an innocent gesture; it implies a decision about who can participate and who cannot, perpetuating hierarchies. This decision has been applauded by far-right sectors, transforming the local problem into a broader symptom that should alert public institutions, which are theoretically committed to equality and justice.
The institutional response has been uneven. On one hand, the withdrawal of the Tourist Interest title has been announced, while on the other, the political stance has wavered between prudence and lukewarmness, being deemed insufficient. This situation raises concerns about the normalization of such serious discrimination and the inadequate response it receives, as well as the persistence of misogynistic discourses among young men.
The media focus on this vote has diverted attention from more urgent problems affecting Sagunto's working class, such as access to housing, job insecurity, public services, and the situation of people at risk of exclusion.
