Some things are so common in our day to day that we don't even pay much attention or think about it. Are taking birth control pills, voting and getting a divorce, for example, female rights today? But it was not always so. It took a lot of struggle and the action of amazing women to bring about any change.
This is exactly what we will praise today! Check out some milestones in history that featured the action of feminist movements and attitude-filled women. We still have a long way to go, but these achievements are there to show that the world is ours and nothing can stop us! #gogirls
1. Launch of the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizens (1791)
Marie Gouze, known as Olympe de Gouges, was a pioneer feminist who spread her opinion and struggle through writing and plays. She wanted women to have the same rights and duties as men. The pamphlet Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizen, written in 1791, called on women to act. However, in 18973 Olympe was guillotined for questioning the values of the time.
Olympe de Gouges's pamphlet was bold and reactionary at that time, since women had no voice. Even after more than 200 years, this courage continues to inspire many women around the world.
2. Creation of the first computer algorithm (1843)
Although the computer science and computer science market is currently dominated by men, it is a woman who has the title of first programmer in history. Augusta Ada King created notes on an analytical machine by her colleague Charles Babbage between 1842 and 1843. This information continued for more than a century after publication.
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In 1982 a programming language gained the name? Ada? in honor of this important character. Ada Lovelace Day is celebrated worldwide on October 13th, which aims to remember women's achievements in mathematics, engineering and technology, encouraging more women to follow this universe.
3. Conquest of the Female Vote in Brazil (1932)
Only in 1932 did women gain the right to vote. That is not all: at the time, only women authorized by husbands, widows or single could go to the polls. Women gradually gained their citizenship in male-dominated spaces. And yet it took a lot of movement to get to this point.
Biologist Bertha Lutz is one of the names among the pioneers of the Brazilian feminist movement. Having known women's struggle in Europe and the United States, she was directly responsible for the changes in laws that gave women basic rights. She created the Brazilian Federation for Women's Progress (FBPF) and stated that voting was not a privilege, but an obligation, and that there should be no gender distinction.
4. Creation of the birth control pill (1961)
Margaret Sanger, a nurse and sexologist, is considered to have coined the term 'birth control'. Along with scientist Gregory Pincus, gynecologist John Rock and biologist and feminist Katharine McCormick, she was responsible for the discovery of the birth control pill, which began its studies in 1953 and was marketed from 1957.
Margaret believed that women would not have the same rights as men until they were sexually free. She wanted a woman to have control of her body by deciding whether or not to have children.
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5. Sanctioned Status of Married Woman (1962)
If we consider what the 1916 Civil Code said, married women had no decision-making power. It required permission from her husband to work outside the home, for example. It was not until 1962 that Law 4.121 / 62, the Married Woman's Statute, abolished women's disability.
Through this statute it was possible for the woman to work outside the home, in addition to being entitled to inheritance and requesting custody of the children in case of separation. This gain made the role of women a little closer to that of men, but gender was only considered equal under the law with the 1988 Constitution less than 30 years ago.
6. First Woman President of the World (1974)
Isabelita Perón took over the government of Argentina in 1974 after the death of her husband Juan Domingo Perón. The government had inherited a series of problems, such as worker strikes, inflation and political violence, and the measure taken by the then president was to declare a state of siege and reform the ministry. The crisis went out of control and Isabelita was overthrown by the military in 1976.
Although Isabelita was not the most popular of politicians in Argentine history, the fact that a woman was at the head of a country for the first time was a major milestone.
7. Sanctioned the Divorce Law (1977)
It was not until the late 1970s that marriage dissolution became a reality. It was a claim of the feminist movement that generated much controversy at the time. Until then, married people continued to have a legal bond until the end of their lives. It was possible to make the request for "disqualification", but the marriage bond remained.
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The Divorce Law brought the possibility that people could remarry once again. And only the 1988 Constitution brought an individual to marry and divorce as many times as he wanted. After all, the pursuit of happiness is up to everyone!
8. Creation of the State Council of Women's Rights (1987)
Created in 1987 and one of the pioneers when it comes to women's rights councils in Brazil, the State Council of Women's Rights (CEDIM / RJ) resulted from the claims of feminist movements in Rio de Janeiro. Its purpose is to elaborate public policies from a gender perspective, aiming at equal opportunities between men and women.
The actions carried out by CEDIM gained credit among the female public, which led to the creation of councils in other states, the creation of the Women's Rights Superintendence-SUDIM / RJ in 2007 and, subsequently, the Secretariat for Policies for Women.
9. Created the Maria da Penha Law (2006)
According to the UN, the Maria da Penha Law is the third best law in the world. It was from its inception that violence against women, whether domestic or intrafamilial, began to impose stricter penalties on aggressors.
The law was named after Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes, a Ceará pharmacist who fought for decades to see her aggressor arrested. Her ex-husband assaulted her and tried to kill her more than once, making her paraplegic. He served only a third of his sentence and today is free. Maria da Penha has three daughters and is the founder of an NGO that fights against domestic violence.
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10. Approved the Femicide Act (2015)
Sanctioned by then Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, the Feminicide Law makes the murder of women hideous because of gender discrimination or domestic violence. The law brought an amendment to the Penal Code, providing for the action as qualified homicide.
The length of the sentence may be longer in some specific cases, such as femicide against children under 14 years old, elderly people, during pregnancy or in the trimester after delivery. This law came to take stricter measures regarding the high rate of violence against women in Brazil.
This is just a brushstroke on important achievements and movements throughout history. There are many women who strive daily to bring about change and to make the world a fairer, equality-seeking place. We are still fighting!
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