To resolve similar problems, AMNLAE and the defense committees run discussion groups that resemble North American consciousness-raising sessions. In these workshops, women are encouraged to work with their men to dissuade them from "counterrevolutionary" ways. Reyes says men may participate in these functions. But few do--because of disinterest. "It's not that we're hostile towards them or vice-versa," Reyes hastens to assure. "Our approach is not to confront or alienate these men, but to work with them."

The party line for women disturbed by this, Reyes says, is that one must wait, that revolutions--particularly personal ones--don't occur overnight, and that you should forgive men who cling to pre-revolutionary notions, Several former comandantes interviewed in Managua, Leon, Grenada and Masaya seemed willing to wait for this internal change to occur within their macho men. "After all," says one, "it's not their fault they were brought up a certain way. You've got to be patient--they're trying hard." But there were just as many whose patience was running out, who felt "we changed, why can't they?"

But do these men really want to change? What's in it for them? Apparently a lot of peer pressure exists within the FSLN to behave like good egalitarians. Because AMNLAE has the status of a government organization, it has much contact with other departments and serves as a moral watchdog. But the end result can be deception. "If I felt a woman 'comrade' was inferior, I wouldn't let anyone know," one male Ministry of Health official confesses. "I'd be branded as 'counterrevolutionary.' But," he adds, "although the popular FSLN view is that a woman is more desirable if she fought or was active in the revolution, there are still many men who treat women as equals at meetings, but subjugate them at home."

WHAT'S TO MAKE THEM change, then? Reyes was asked. "Time and education" was her prompt response. "As it is now, change is in the hands of women. They run the political education program. Which is responsible for programs from lectures sponsored by the defense committees to elementary school classes, and which teaches that men and women are equally capable. The books used in the literacy campaign portray both men and women as good revolutionaries. Perhaps this generation of men will be slow to change, but the next generation will be brought up with our new revolutionary values," she says.

Doubts remain, though. Was AMNLAE a concessionary tool on the part of a male-dominated government to maintain post-war unity in a nation where 90 per cent of the population fought against Somoza? Are women encouraged to work solely to achieve a certain level of national productivity?

Reyes looks askance. "AMNLAE is too powerful within the FSLN government and grass-roots community groups to be manipulated. And the few women on the ruling council are highly influential national figures."

It becomes apparent that the barometer for attitudinal change vis-a-vis women in Nicaragua is the effectiveness of propaganda. The Nicaraguan lesson is that perhaps the only way to overcome sexism is by intense political indoctrination and enforced peer pressure. Time will tell if Nicaragua will succeed in changing social attitudes and integrating women into all sectors of Nicaraguan society.

And if it doesn't succeed in the next generation? "Well," Reyes smiles, "we're certainly better off than we were before. And better off than a lot of North American women."