Josefa Amar y Borbón facts for kids
Josefa Amar y Borbón (born 1749, died 1833) was an important Spanish writer. She was part of a group of thinkers who wanted to improve Spain. They believed education was the key to fixing problems. Josefa is known as one of the first Spanish feminists.
Her Life Story
Josefa Amar y Borbón was born in 1749 in Saragossa, Spain. Her family was well-known. When she was five, her father became a doctor for the king. Her family then moved to Madrid.
In Madrid, Josefa received a special education. She had teachers from the royal court. She could also use the king's huge libraries. This helped her learn a lot on her own. She became very good at science. She also learned many old and new European languages.
In 1764, Josefa married Joaquin Fuertes Piquer. They had at least one son. In 1772, they moved back to Saragossa. Her husband became a judge there.
Josefa was the first woman to join the Aragonese Economic Society in 1782. This group helped poor people and gave jobs to prisoners. She also joined other important groups. These included the Ladies' Group in Madrid (1787) and the Medical Society of Barcelona (1790). She was very active in these groups from 1782 to 1790.
Her Translations
Josefa was skilled in many languages. She knew Greek, Latin, French, English, and Italian. She was famous for her excellent translations.
She translated a large book called Historical and Apologetic Essay of Spanish Literature. This book was written by Javier Lampillas. Because of this translation, she was allowed to join the Aragonese Economic Society.
She also translated a discussion about farmers. It talked about whether local priests should teach farmers about growing crops. This was published in 1783. Another translation she did was of a work by Mme de Lambert. Other writers praised her for this work.
Her Writings
In the 1780s, Josefa started publishing her own ideas. She wrote essays and longer papers. Her writings covered three main areas:
- Science and medicine
- Literature and humanities
- Fighting against old superstitions
Josefa published eight essays between 1783 and 1787. In 1790, she published a book. It was called Discurso sobre la education fisica y moral de las mugeres. This means Discourse on the Physical and Moral Education of Women.
In 1786, she wrote a strong defense of women's rights. It was titled "Discourse in Defense of the Talent of Women, and of Their Aptitude for Governing and Other Positions in Which Men Are Employed." Her writing also appeared in a magazine called Memorial Literario. People knew her for being clever and using humor in her writing.
Her Impact
Josefa Amar y Borbón helped start the idea of feminism during the Enlightenment. She especially focused on women's happiness. She believed women had a right to be happy. She looked for ways women could find joy both personally and together.
She questioned old traditions, even though she was a very religious Catholic. She believed that new ideas about fair government should apply to women too. These ideas came from thinkers like John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.
Josefa was one of the few educated women linked to the time of King Carlos III. She was called the most learned Spanish woman of her time. She was a strong leader for civil rights. She fought for women to have equal education. She also wanted women to take part in public life.
In her books, Josefa mixed old Spanish writing styles from the Siglo de Oro (Golden Age) with new ideas from the 1700s. She helped create a writing style that later became known as the modern essay.
See also
- Inés Joyes y Blake, an 18th-century Spanish writer and translator
- Margarita Hickey, an 18th-century Spanish poet and translator
- In Spanish: Josefa Amar y Borbón para niños
