Wendy Angulo Productions
“My biggest fear in life – to be forgotten.” ~ Eva Peron, born in the village of Los Toldos in Pampas rural Argentina.
Eva Peron has remained an important cultural icon in Latin America. I learned about her in school and was fascinated by her story and her legacy as a woman who offered an example of passion and combativeness.
She served as the first lady of Argentina in 1946 until her death and was married to Argentinian President Juan Peron.
Eva Perón became powerful within the pro-Peronist trade unions, primarily for speaking on behalf of labor rights. She also ran the Ministries of Labor and Health, founded and ran the charitable Eva Perón Foundation, championed women’s suffrage in Argentina, and founded and ran the nation’s first large-scale female political party, the Female Peronist Party.
In 1951 she announced her candidacy for Vice President of Argentina but due to her battle with cancer she was forced to withdraw her candidacy.
One of the things I admire of Eva Peron is her resilience and strength; during Peron’s presidency she had to fight for recognition and respect of her role as First Lady of Argentina from the society ladies who did not approve of her impoverished background, lack of formal education, and former career as an actress. This group was in charge of charity work in the country under an organization called “Sociedad of Beneficiencia” (Society of Beneficence) and had the tradition of electing the First Lady of Argentina as their President but when it was Eva Peron’s turn they declined.
This didn’t stop Eva Peron, in 1948 she created her own organization The Eva Peron Foundation which focused on providing monetary assistance and scholarships to gifted children from impoverished backgrounds, build homes, schools, hospitals and orphanages in underprivileged areas.
Eva Peron was also a supporter and advocate for women’s right to vote in her country. She made numerous radio addresses in support of women’s suffrage and also published articles in her Democracia newspaper asking male Peronists to support women’s right to vote.
Eva was popular amongst the working class and the day of her passing, everything stopped in the country and she was mourn for two weeks. The government suspended all official activities for two days and ordered all flags flown at half-staff for ten days. Although she never held a political office, she was given a state funeral usually reserved for a head of state.
Perón’s life continues to fascinate people around the world. She is the story of a poor girl who became a prominent political power that has been the subject of countless books, films and plays. Eva Peron is a symbol of feminism and Women’s Right Activism. 31daysofwomen#WAP#powerful#innovators#allthingswomen
