María Currea Manrique facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
María Currea Manrique
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| Born | 28 May 1890 Bogotá, Colombia
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| Died | 23 May 1985 (aged 94) Bogotá, Colombia
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| Nationality | Colombian |
| Other names | María Currea de Aya |
| Occupation | nurse, writer, suffragist |
| Years active | 1930–1970 |
| Known for | First woman councilor of Bogotá |
| Spouse(s) | Ruperto Aya |
María Currea Manrique (born May 28, 1890 – died May 23, 1985) was an important Colombian woman. She was a feminist, which means she believed in equal rights for women. She was also a suffragist, fighting for women's right to vote. María was a politician, a nurse, and a journalist.
She played a big part in changing laws in Colombia. These new laws gave women the right to be full citizens, to get an education, and to vote. In 1960, she was named "Woman of the Americas" by the Organization of American States. She received many awards during her life. Even after she passed away, an award was created in her name. It is given every March 8, on International Women's Day, to a Colombian woman who has done great things for women's rights.
Contents
María's Early Life and Fight for Rights
María Currea Manrique was born in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 28, 1890. Her parents were General Aníbal Currea and Hersilia Manrique de Currea. Her family was wealthy, so she traveled a lot. She visited many countries in Europe and the United States. This helped her learn different languages.
At that time, women in Colombia could not go to universities. So, María went to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. There, she earned a nursing degree. Later, she studied philosophy and humanities at the University of the Sorbonne in Paris. She even earned a doctorate degree.
María married Ruperto Aya, who was a veteran of the Thousand Days' War. He helped her open doors to fight for women's rights.
Winning Citizenship for Women
In 1930, a group of women, led by Georgina Fletcher, tried to get full citizen rights for Colombian women. Back then, women's earnings belonged to their husbands, fathers, or brothers. Women also had no legal control over their own children. The women were not successful in 1930.
However, two years later, Ruperto Aya introduced María to President Enrique Olaya Herrera. María and other women pushed the president to help change the laws. In 1932, Law 28 was passed. This law was very important because it recognized women as citizens for the first time in Colombia.
Gaining Education and Public Office Rights
The women did not stop there. They kept pushing for more rights. In 1933, they won the right to go to universities and get higher education. By 1936, women also gained the right to work in public office.
From 1938 to 1948, María Currea was Colombia's representative. She worked for the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM). This group worked to improve women's rights across the Americas. She lived in the United States between 1937 and 1944. When she wasn't working for the CIM, María taught Spanish. She also worked at a community center called Henry Street Settlement Home. She wrote for newspapers and did translation work. She also gave many speeches in Colombia and other countries.
Fighting for the Right to Vote
María returned to Colombia in 1944. She helped start two important groups that fought for women's right to vote. These were the Unión Femenina de Colombia (Women's Union of Colombia) (UFC) and the Alianza Femenina de Colombia (Women's Alliance of Colombia). She worked with other women like Lucila Rubio de Laverde.
María became the president of the UFC. This group fought not just for women to vote. They also worked to fix unfair social and economic problems. She worked with many other women, including María Calderón de Nieto, Teresa Cuervo, and her daughter Beatriz Aya Currea. For ten years, they presented ideas and plans. But both liberal and conservative politicians rejected them.
Women Win the Vote and María's Political Career
Finally, on August 25, 1954, Colombian women won the right to vote! María and other suffragists immediately started working hard. They went door-to-door, helping women register to vote. In 1957, women voted for the first time. Nearly two million women participated in that election.
Two years later, María Currea ran for office. She was elected as the first woman councilor of Bogotá. A councilor is like a city leader. Then, she was elected as the first woman to be president of the council. In 1960, the Organization of American States honored her as the "Woman of the Americas." In 1969, she was elected as the mayor of the town of Pacho.
Besides her political work, María also founded the School of Nursing of the Red Cross. She was very active in the Union of Citizens of Colombia. She volunteered for the Red Cross as one of the Gray Ladies of Bogotá. She was also a member of the Profamilia Board, a group focused on family well-being. María Currea passed away on May 23, 1985, in Bogotá, Colombia.
Recognizing María's Achievements
María Currea received many honors for her dedication.
- She was recognized as the "Woman of the Americas."
- She received the Order of Boyaca twice. This is a high honor in Colombia. She was an officer in 1962 and a commander in 1978.
- In 1972, the president of Peru gave her the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services.
- In 1981, she was honored with the Medal of the Colombian Association of the United Nations.
In 2004, a special award was created in her name. It is called the Civil Order of Merit María Currea Manrique. This award is given every year on International Women's Day, March 8. It honors a woman in Bogotá who has done great things. These women excel in social, cultural, and labor fields. They also work to defend human rights. Their efforts help improve the quality of life for their community.
See also
In Spanish: María Currea para niños
