Panama Feminist Movement: History, Leaders, and Suffrage
Feminist Movement in Panama
In the early twentieth century, U.S. interference was evident, resulting in casualties and political dependence on the U.S. Panamanian politics were corrupt, with interventions aimed at imposing “order” during elections. Under these circumstances, the feminist movement emerged, advocating for women’s suffrage and consultation in public life.
Key Figures
Clara Gonzalez: A prominent figure from the 1920s, she elevated the National Feminist Party. This group aimed to secure voting rights and equal citizenship for women. She formed the feminist movement Renewal to achieve greater female participation in public life and the right to vote.
Gumercinda Paez: She was a constituent and participated in drafting the 1946 Constitution.
Esther Calvo Neida: One of the first Panamanian women deputies in the Constituent Assembly. She was appointed as Panama’s representative to the Inter-American Commission of Women of the OAS.
Otilia Arosemena de Tejeira: Her work in education, women’s rights, and ethnic minority rights had a significant impact. She was named Woman of the Americas in 1967 and became the first president of the Panamanian Committee for Human Rights in 1978. She joined the National Feminist Party and actively participated in the 1945 Constituent Assembly election.
Constitutional Context
The 1941 Constitution (Article 21) stated: “Foreigners in Panama enjoy civil rights and guarantees granted to citizens, except for limitations established in this Constitution or by law. Political rights can only be exercised by nationals.” Title II of the constitution addressed acts and regulations discriminating against immigrants in Panama.
In the 1945 elections, Gumercinda Paez and Esther Neira became the first two Panamanian women deputies in the Constituent Assembly. Their contribution during the drafting of the Constitution focused on the protection of women and children.
The Fight for Equal Suffrage
The inclusion of women’s voting rights during the presidency of Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid in 1940-1941 granted women the right to vote, although initially limited to women aged 21 with university, vocational, normal, or secondary school degrees for municipal council elections. They were not allowed to vote in presidential elections.
Equal suffrage was established in the Constitution of 1946. The Constitution of 1941 first established that the law could grant suffrage to Panamanian women over 21 with certain limitations. Law 98 of July 5, 1941, allowed women over 21 to vote in provincial council elections if they had specific educational qualifications. The first women’s suffrage was exercised on May 6, 1945, in the election of deputies to the Second Constituent Assembly by Decree 12 of February 2, 1945. The Constitution of 1946 put women on equal terms with men, including the exercise of political rights.
Women’s Rights in Other Regions
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A key theorist of 19th-century American feminism. She based her arguments on rationality and equality, influenced by the Enlightenment. Along with Susan B. Anthony, she advocated for women’s suffrage in the USA.
Mary Wollstonecraft: She argued that individuals should be treated as individuals, not as group members. She believed there was no rational basis for excluding women and advocated for equal education for girls and boys. Her work greatly influenced the shaping of thought on gender equality.