Spanish Author Denounces Misogynistic Use of Slur 'Charo'

Author Aida Bao has denounced the use of the term "Charo" as a misogynistic slur targeting progressive women in Spain.

The critique highlights how language is used to marginalize middle-aged women who hold feminist or left-wing views, potentially chilling public discourse.

Bao detailed these concerns in an opinion piece published on June 25, 2026 ^[1], as part of the "Notas de voz en la terraza" program on El País. She said that the label is applied to women who fit a specific profile: those of middle age or older who defend feminist ideas with respect.

According to Bao, the term has become a way to dismiss women based on a set of stereotypes. She said, "Misogyny does not stop. Now it turns out that being a woman of middle age onwards, having feminist ideas, defending them with respect, and another series of stereotypes that finish completing the profile, is considered being a 'Charo'."

The piece suggests that the slur functions by reducing a woman's political and social convictions to a caricature. By framing progressive beliefs as a trait of a specific, mocked archetype, the use of the term seeks to invalidate the arguments of the women it targets.

This discourse occurs within a broader climate of gender-based tension in Spain. The use of such labels often targets women who are active in political or social spheres, attempting to shame them into silence or social invisibility.

Bao's commentary serves as a call to recognize the persistence of misogyny in everyday language. She said that the evolution of these slurs allows hate to persist under the guise of social labeling or humor.