Gumercinda Páez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gumercinda Páez
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| Born |
Gumercinda Páez Villarreal
13 January 1904 |
| Died | 1991 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Occupation | Educator, suffragist, politician, writer |
| Years active | 1919–1951 |
Gumercinda Páez (1904-1991) was an important Panamanian woman. She was a teacher, a strong supporter of women's rights, and a politician. She fought for women to have the right to vote, which is what a suffragette does.
Gumercinda Páez made history as the first woman to be a deputy (like a representative) for the Panamá Province in the National Assembly. She was also the first woman to be a vice president of the Constituent Assembly of Panama in 1946. Because she came from a mixed background, she understood unfairness and worked hard to make sure everyone was included.
Contents
About Gumercinda Páez
Her Early Life and Education
Gumercinda Páez was born on January 13, 1904, in Panama City, Panama. Her father, Jose Antonio Páez, was from Venezuela with African roots. Her mother, Mercedes Villarreal, was Panamanian with indigenous roots.
She grew up in the Santa Ana neighborhood. She went to Escuela Santa Ana No. 2 and then to the National Institute of Panama. There, she learned about trading and earned a diploma. She also studied science and got a certificate to teach in primary schools.
In an interview in 1985, Gumercinda shared that after her father passed away, she became the main helper for her mother and two brothers. She worked as a teacher during the day and went to school at night. This made it hard to finish her science degree.
At night school, she learned piano, arts and crafts, and painting. She even got a diploma in typewriter repair! She also studied English and spent three years studying law at the University of Panama. In 1945, she earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and letters from the University of Panama.
Her Teaching Career
While still in school, Gumercinda started tutoring students from wealthy families. After getting her teaching certificate, she taught at Panama College. Later, she and her family moved to Garachiné for a three-year teaching job at the Setegantí School. This meant she had to pause her own studies.
Gumercinda was not afraid to speak up about how things were run, which sometimes led to her dismissal. She then taught at the Escuela Antillana, working mostly with Cuban immigrants. She also taught in other places like Macaracas, Chilibre, and at the School Pedro J. Sosa.
She later found a job at the Ministry of Education's archives. After that, she became the assistant director of the Escuela República de Venezuela in Panama City, where she taught for two years.
Her Work in Politics
Even while teaching in Garachiné, Gumercinda Páez started a women's group called Sociedad ProCultura Femenina. Their goal was to teach local women about how important education and good nutrition were. She also learned about the challenges faced by Cuban and other West Indian migrants. She became a strong supporter for them while teaching at the Escuela Antillana. She also supported the Feminist National Party until it became less active in the 1940s.
In 1941, there was a big change in Panama's government. This led to a need for a new Constituent Assembly, which is a group that writes or changes a country's constitution. At this time, new laws were passed that took away some citizenship rights from Panamanian women. However, they were given limited voting rights in local councils if they could read and write.
Gumercinda wanted to make sure women's issues were discussed. So, she wrote about 30 educational plays about social problems. These plays were broadcast on Radio Chocú and the Voice of Panama for three years, with help from the Ministry of Education. The shows were presented as fun, educational entertainment. This made Gumercinda very well-known and popular.
When a new Constituent Assembly was called for in 1944, women's rights activists pushed hard to be included. Many women were suggested as backups, but few as actual candidates. The women's movement had two main groups: The National Union of Women, led by lawyer Clara González de Behringer, and the League of Patriotic Feminists, led by Gumercinda Páez and Esther Neira de Calvo.
Gumercinda campaigned very hard, fighting against unfairness based on race and gender. When the votes were counted on May 6, only two women were elected to the 51-member Constituent Assembly. These were Esther Neira de Calvo and Gumercinda Páez. Gumercinda became the delegate for Panamá Province. Not only were they the first two women to serve in the National Assembly, but Gumercinda was also chosen to be the Vice President of the Assembly.
From 1945 to 1948, Gumercinda worked on many important issues. These included women's rights, education, and religious freedom. She also worked on creating a police force, retirement plans for teachers and nurses, and making sure minority students were accepted in Panamanian schools.
After her time in the Assembly, Gumercinda continued to be involved in women's rights. In 1947, she led the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres (First Inter-American Congress of Women) in Guatemala City. In 1951, she was a special guest at a UNESCO conference in Mexico. In 1980, the Inter-American Commission of Women honored her by adding her name to their "Golden Book." In Panama, she received several important awards, including the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero and the Order Vasco Núñez de Balboa. She also received the keys to Panama City.
Later in life, she retired to Veracruz, Panama. She wrote plays and theater productions that were found after her death.
Gumercinda Páez passed away in Veracruz, Panama in 1991.
Her Lasting Legacy
Gumercinda Páez left a big mark on Panama. In 2005, an annual award called Condecoración Orden Gumercinda Páez was created in her honor. This award recognizes Panamanian women who show great civic spirit and excellent professional, cultural, educational, and humanitarian qualities.
In 2011, the National Institute of Culture (INAC) honored her work with an exhibit at the Afro-Antillean Museum of Panama. This exhibit recognized her efforts in fighting for the rights of West Indian American and indigenous children. You can also find public monuments and schools named after her today.
See also
In Spanish: Gumercinda Páez para niños
