Eugenia Viteri facts for kids

Blanca Eugenia Viteri Segura (born July 4, 1928 – died September 2023) was an important writer, anthologist, and teacher from Ecuador. She was also a strong supporter of women's rights. People often called her "a grand dame of Ecuadorian literature," meaning she was a very respected and important figure in writing.

Early Life and Education

Eugenia Viteri was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 1928. Her father, Ignacio Viteri Urquiza, was an accountant. Her mother, María Tomasa Segura Leó, worked in a button factory. Eugenia loved poetry from a young age. She would cut out and save poems she found in newspapers.

School Days and First Interviews

When she was in grade school, Eugenia became the editor of her school newspaper. This gave her a chance to interview famous politicians. One person she interviewed was Galo Plaza Lasso, who later became president of Ecuador.

In 1950, Eugenia started studying at the theater school. This school was part of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana in Guayas Province. She graduated three years later with a degree in modern humanities. After that, she joined the Department of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Guayaquil.

Starting Her Writing Career

In 1954, Eugenia Viteri entered a story called "El Heredero" into a writing competition. She won second prize! In the same year, she shared two more stories, "El anillo" and "El Chiquillo," at a university festival. These stories were later put into a collection called Diez cuentos universitarios in 1955.

By 1955, Eugenia had moved to Quito. She found a job there as a radio operator. In 1957, her only daughter, Silvia Alexandra Vera, was born in Quito. Three years later, Eugenia went back to Guayaquil. She started working for the transit commission, which manages transportation.

In 1962, Eugenia won fourth prize in a theater competition. Her play, "El Mar trajo la flor," was based on her earlier story "El anillo." That same year, she became a member of the Casa de la Cultura. This is a very important cultural institution in Ecuador.

Time in Exile

Eugenia Viteri believed in Marxism, which is a set of ideas about society and economics. Because of her beliefs, when a military government took over Ecuador in 1963, she had to leave the country. She went into exile with her daughter in Chile. She sold her furniture to get enough money for the trip.

In 1964, she married Pedro Jorge Vera in Chile. He was an important Ecuadorian communist and a close friend of Fidel Castro. In 1965, the couple moved to Cuba after Castro invited them. When the military government in Ecuador ended in 1966, the new president, Clemente Yerovi, invited Eugenia and Pedro to come back home.

Later Career and Achievements

In 1969, Eugenia Viteri started working at a school called Colegio Nacional Veinticuatro de Mayo. She supervised writing competitions and ran the student newspaper. In 1975, she became the head of the school's literature department.

Fighting for Women's Rights

In 1976, Eugenia wanted to buy an apartment with her own money. However, old laws made it difficult for women. She was not allowed to get a loan because her husband already owned property. To solve this, she and her husband divorced so she could buy the apartment. Then, they immediately remarried. This shows how determined she was.

In 1983, Eugenia Viteri started the Manuela Sáenz Cultural Foundation. Through this foundation, she became one of the most important people fighting for women's rights in Ecuador. She worked hard to make sure women were treated fairly.

In 1984, she published her second novel, Las alcobas negras. She dedicated this book to all Ecuadorian women who were still waiting for equal treatment. Three years later, she created the Basic Anthology of Ecuadorian Stories. This book collected important Ecuadorian short stories.

National Recognition

In 2008, the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, honored Eugenia Viteri. She received the Rosa Campuzano National Prize. This award was new, and it recognized the work of important Ecuadorian women. Eugenia was one of the first people to receive it.

Eugenia Viteri wrote more than a dozen books. These included novels, collections of short stories, and anthologies. Her writings have been translated into several languages, including English, Russian, and Bulgarian.

Death

Eugenia Viteri passed away in September 2023. She was 95 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Eugenia Viteri para niños