Women were second class citizens, except during courtship and dance: Toni Manonelles

Women have suffered as second class citizens in most traditional, patriarchal societies around the world and Ibiza was no exception. Females had far fewer freedoms and rights than men and were often excluded from secondary education right up until the 1970s and ‘80s. However there was one moment in a woman’s life when she was in control of her destiny, and exerted power over her family and the males she came into contact with - the period between the start of her courtship and the moment she got married, including the rituals of dancing. This extraordinary and unusual aspect of traditional society is believed to be unique to Ibiza and Formentera.