Spanish lawmakers are poised to pass legislation that would require 50 percent of Spain's euro coins be marked with a woman's image.

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"For women, this is absolutely fundamental," Elvira Cortajarena, the member of parliament sponsoring the measure, told the Times of London. "We need our work to be recognized and valued."

Efforts to temper the country's macho image have been met with guffaws about political correctness, the Times said. Yet the country is undertaking an ambitious effort to promote gender equality.

When dictator Francisco Franco died in 1975, women could not work, own property, open a bank account or travel without a husband's consent. Contraception, abortion and adultery were all illegal although in practice only women were penalized for having an affair.

"Spanish women have come a long way in a short time," said Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, the country's first female prime minister.

Lawmakers are debating a bill that would require at least 40 percent of electoral candidates and Spanish company board members to be women.

The opposition Popular Party opposes the bill, saying quotas interfere with business' ability to make its decisions.