Maria Werneck de Castro facts for kids

Maria Morais Werneck de Castro (born in Rio de Janeiro, 1909 – died in Rio de Janeiro, 1994) was a Brazilian lawyer. She was also a strong supporter of communist ideas and a leader in the women's rights movement.

Life of Maria Werneck de Castro

Maria Werneck de Castro was born on October 8, 1909. Her family lived in a neighborhood called Laranjeiras in Rio de Janeiro. Her father, Justo de Moraes, was a lawyer. Her grandfather, Luiz Mendes de Moraes, was an important person who served as the Minister of War in 1909.

Maria followed in her father's footsteps and studied law. She later married Luis Werneck de Castro, who was also a lawyer and shared her political beliefs.

Fighting for Women's Rights

Maria was a very active person. From the 1930s, she fought for women's right to vote. This is called women's suffrage. She believed women should have the same rights as men.

She joined groups like the Federación Brasileña por el Progreso Femenino. This group worked to help women make progress in society. She also joined the Liga Antifascista, which opposed political systems that were against freedom.

Maria was good friends with other important figures. These included Luís Carlos Prestes and his sister, Clotilde Prestes. She was also a companion to Nise da Silveira and Olga Benário Prestes.

Maria helped start a group called the União Feminina do Brasil [pt] (Women's Union of Brazil). She worked as a director for this organization. She co-founded it with Mary Mercio and Eugênia Álvaro Moreyra.

Later Life and Work

At one point, Maria had to leave Brazil and live in Argentina. This is called going into exile. She returned later and became a member of the Brazilian Communist Party in 1947. She worked with a group called the Movimiento Unitario de los Trabajadores e Intelectuales. This group aimed to unite workers and thinkers.

Towards the end of her life, Maria focused on education. She became a professor, teaching Portuguese and history.

Maria Werneck de Castro passed away on April 6, 1994, in Rio de Janeiro.

Books by Maria Werneck de Castro

Maria Werneck de Castro also wrote several books. Here are some of them:

• Aquarelas : espécies vegetais em extinção (1987)
• Sala 4 : primeira prisão política feminina (1988)
• No tempo dos barões : histórias do apogeu e decadência de uma família fluminense no ciclo do café (with Moacir Werneck de Castro; 2004)
• Natureza viva : memórias, carreira e obra de uma pioneira do desenho científico no Brasil (with Moacir Werneck de Castro; 2004)

See also

In Spanish: Maria Werneck de Castro para niños