María Rivera Urquieta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
María Rivera Urquieta
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| Born |
María Mercedes Rivera Urquieta
12 June 1894 Vallenar, Atacama Province, Chile
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| Nationality | Chilean |
| Occupation | Educator and feminist |
| Years active | 1914–1949? |
María Rivera Urquieta (born in 1894) was an important Chilean teacher and feminist. A feminist is someone who believes in equal rights for women and men. María was one of the people who helped start the Pro-Emancipation Movement of Chilean Women (known as MEMCH). This group worked hard to improve life for women in Chile.
María also gave talks for the Chilean Federation of Feminine Institutions. In 1947, she led a meeting at a big event called the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres (First Inter-American Congress of Women) in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
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Who Was María Rivera Urquieta?
María Mercedes Rivera Urquieta was born on June 12, 1894. Her hometown was Vallenar, which was then in Atacama Province, Chile. Today, Vallenar is part of Huasco Province. Her parents were Tobias Rivera Iriarte and Petronila Urquieta Mondaca.
María became a teacher. She also became a strong voice for women's rights in Chile.
Working for Women's Rights
María Rivera was one of the first members of the Pro-Emancipation Movement of Chilean Women (MEMCH). This important group started on May 11, 1935. It was founded by Elena Caffarena, who invited other women to join her in fighting for women's equality.
Besides María, other founding members included lawyers, journalists, and other teachers. They all worked together for a common goal: to make life better and fairer for women.
Educating the Public
In 1946, MEMCH organized a series of talks at the University of Chile. They had help from the Chilean Federation of Feminine Institutions. These talks covered many different topics. They discussed Chilean history, the country's laws, democracy, the economy, education, health, and politics.
María Rivera was one of the speakers at these events. Other speakers included Graciela Mandujano, Aída Parada, Olga Poblete, and Eulogia Román. After each talk, people had lively discussions about the topics.
An International Meeting
In 1947, María Rivera attended the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres. This was a big meeting held in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Women from many different countries came together. Each woman represented groups from her own country.
María Rivera represented several organizations from Chile. These included the Asociaciones Cristianas Femeninas and the Federación Chilena Femenina.
Discussing Important Global Issues
At the conference, María led a discussion about nuclear power. They talked about the dangers of using atomic bombs. The women at the congress made eight recommendations. One important recommendation was to make sure atomic weapons were never used again. They also wanted all existing nuclear weapons and the factories that made them to be destroyed.
The group also suggested a wide education program. This program would teach everyone, including children and older people, about the good and bad sides of nuclear power. Finally, they asked the United Nations to appoint women who believed in peace to help control the atomic industry. This was to prevent any more atomic wars.
Women Gain the Right to Vote
On January 8, 1949, something very important happened in Chile. The president signed a law giving women the right to vote! This was a huge victory for all the feminists who had worked for this right for 35 years.
Sadly, none of the feminists who had fought so hard were allowed to be at the ceremony. They listened to the news on their radios at home. The names of the lawmakers and the feminists who had worked for suffrage were read aloud. María Rivera's name was among them, along with many other brave women.
See also
In Spanish: María Rivera Urquieta para niños
