A Woman's Place · Episode 6 of 12 · 23 min
Evita and the Immigrant Nations: The Vote From Above
Argentina and Brazil absorbed millions of immigrants who brought both the breadwinner family and the radical politics to challenge it. Feminists built a sophisticated women's movement while an oligarchic Senate buried every suffrage bill. In 1947 a populist regime granted in weeks what the movement had not won in decades, with conditions attached.
Who's who
- Eva Peron+1 more episodeFirst Lady and public face of the 1947 suffrage law
- Juan Domingo Peronpresident whose regime delivered women's suffrage
- Virginia Boltenanarchist agitator and editor of La Voz de la Mujer in Rosario
- Cecilia Griersonfirst woman medical doctor in Argentina
- Alicia Moreau de Justophysician and Socialist suffragist
- Julieta Lanterifirst woman to vote in Latin America, 1911
- Bertha Lutz+1 more episodeBrazilian biologist who led the suffrage strategy
- Victoria Ocampopublisher and liberal anti-Peronist feminist
Where it happens
- Buenos Aires, Argentinacenter of immigrant politics and the 1947 announcement
- Casa Rosada, Buenos Airesbalcony where Evita announced the suffrage law
- Rosario, Argentinahome of Bolten's anarchist paper edition
Timeline
- 1911Julieta Lanteri votes in Buenos Aires
- September 1932Argentine Chamber passes a suffrage bill that the Senate never takes up
- September 23, 1947Law 13,010 promulgated and announced by Eva Peron
- July 26, 1949Partido Peronista Femenino founded
- November 11, 1951Argentine women vote nationally for the first time
Still debated
Historians disagree whether the 1947 law was liberation or co-optation, and whether credit belongs to Evita's campaign, Peron's calculation, or fifty years of movement groundwork. Party membership figures are also uncertain.