Celebrating Women Telephonists: "The World in their Hands" Communication History Exhibition

This exhibition pays homage to the crucial role women telephonists played in developing communications in Spain and globally. It offers insights into their daily work, challenges, and the social significance of their profession through documents, images, and objects.

‘Telephonists: the World in their Hands’ celebrates the indispensable contributions of women telephonists to the advancement of communications, both in Spain and worldwide. The exhibition draws from Telefónica’s Historical Technological Heritage, showcasing a collection of documents, images, and artifacts that illuminate the everyday experiences, challenges, and advancements faced by these operators, often referred to as the 'voices of an era'. The exhibition delves into the societal impact of this profession, highlighting how working as a telephonist offered women a significant step up the social ladder in the early 20th century, providing better working conditions, higher salaries, and social recognition beyond traditional roles. It details the rigorous selection processes, the technical tasks involved in operating switchboards, and the importance of these women in connecting people. The exhibition also explores the 'lights and shadows' of the job, from the demanding nature of customer service and strict work shifts to the strong sense of solidarity among colleagues and the eventual automation that led to the profession's decline, with the last manual switchboard closing in 1988.

The exhibition is located on the second floor of Espacio Telefónica. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.