Maria Esther Figueiredo Ferraz
Encyclopedia
Esther Figueiredo Ferraz (February 6, 1916 - September 23, 2008) was the first female Minister
to serve in the government of Brazil. Ferraz served as the Brazilian Minister of Education from 1982 until 1985.
Esther Ferraz was born in Sao Paulo
on February 6, 1929. She was a member of the Academia Paulista de Letras. Ferraz earned a law degree and became a lawyer
. She went onto to become the first woman to chair the Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil), or OAB, beginning in 1949. Ferraz later became the first woman to teach and lecture at the University of São Paulo
(USP).
She served on the São Paulo state
Board of Education
from 1963 to 1964. Ferraz held the post of Director of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Diretora do Ensino Superior do Ministério da Educação e Cultura) from 1966 until 1967 under the government of Castello Branco. She later served on the Federal Council of Education (Conselho Federal de Educação) between 1969 and 1982.
Esther Ferraz became the first female Minister of Education and Culture from 1982 until 1985 under the government of President
João Figueiredo
. In doing so, she became the first woman to head a Brazilian government ministry.
She authored several books, including Mulheres Freqüentemente and Prostituição e Criminalidade Feminina, which dealt with women and prostitution
.
Esther Ferraz died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Hospital do Coração in São Paulo
, Brazil, on September 23, 2008, at the age of 92.
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
to serve in the government of Brazil. Ferraz served as the Brazilian Minister of Education from 1982 until 1985.
Esther Ferraz was born in Sao Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
on February 6, 1929. She was a member of the Academia Paulista de Letras. Ferraz earned a law degree and became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. She went onto to become the first woman to chair the Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil), or OAB, beginning in 1949. Ferraz later became the first woman to teach and lecture at the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
(USP).
She served on the São Paulo state
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
from 1963 to 1964. Ferraz held the post of Director of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Diretora do Ensino Superior do Ministério da Educação e Cultura) from 1966 until 1967 under the government of Castello Branco. She later served on the Federal Council of Education (Conselho Federal de Educação) between 1969 and 1982.
Esther Ferraz became the first female Minister of Education and Culture from 1982 until 1985 under the government of President
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
João Figueiredo
João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo
João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo was a Brazilian military leader and politician. He was chief of the Secret Service during the term of his predecessor Ernesto Geisel. Figueiredo was chosen to be president of Brazil by the former military leader, General Ernesto Geisel. He took the oath of...
. In doing so, she became the first woman to head a Brazilian government ministry.
She authored several books, including Mulheres Freqüentemente and Prostituição e Criminalidade Feminina, which dealt with women and prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
.
Esther Ferraz died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the Hospital do Coração in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil, on September 23, 2008, at the age of 92.