Matilde Hidalgo
Encyclopedia
Matilde Hidalgo de Procel (1889–1974) became the first woman to graduate from a high school in Ecuador
, the first woman to vote in an election in South America
and the first woman to hold elected office in her country. She was born in Loja
, to a family of six children born to Juan Manuel Hidalgo and Carmen Navarro. After her father died, her mother had to work as a seamstress to maintain them. Matilde studied at the school the Immaculate Conception of the Sisters of Charity.
Upon graduating from sixth grade, Matilde told her older brother Antonio of her wish to continue studying. Antonio made the request to the secular high school Colegio Bernardo Valdivieso
. The director of the school, Dr. Angel Rubén Ojeda, after thinking about it for a month, agreed. Reaction in the community was not very good: mothers prohibited their daughters from befriending her, the local priest forced her to listen to mass two steps outside the church’s entrance. Nevertheless, her mother staunchly defended her daughter. Eventually Matilde graduated with honors and continued her studies at the University of Cuenca
, obtaining a Doctorate in Medicine in 1923, making her the first Ecuadorian woman to receive such a title. Two years later, Matilde married the lawyer Fernando Procel, and they had two children named: Fernando and Gonzalo Procel, Fernando was a doctor while Gonzalo was an architect
During the presidency of José Luis Tamayo
, Matilde announced that she was going to vote in the next presidential elections. The issue was put under ministerial consultation, eventually ruling in her favor, and in 1924, Matilde Hidalgo becomes the first woman in Latin America
to exercise her constitutional right to vote in an election.
Matilde opened many more doors: she became the first elected councilwoman of Machala
and, the first vice-president of the Council of Machala. In 1941, she became the first woman candidate and the first elected woman public administrator in Loja, the city that was once horrified by her ambitions.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, the first woman to vote in an election in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and the first woman to hold elected office in her country. She was born in Loja
Loja, Ecuador
Loja is the capital of Ecuador's Loja Province. It is located in the Cuxibamba valley in the south of the country, sharing borders with the provinces of Zamora-Chinchipe and El Oro, and with Peru in the south...
, to a family of six children born to Juan Manuel Hidalgo and Carmen Navarro. After her father died, her mother had to work as a seamstress to maintain them. Matilde studied at the school the Immaculate Conception of the Sisters of Charity.
Upon graduating from sixth grade, Matilde told her older brother Antonio of her wish to continue studying. Antonio made the request to the secular high school Colegio Bernardo Valdivieso
Colegio Bernardo Valdivieso
Colegio Bernardo Valdivieso, located in Loja Ecuador, is the oldest school in the country, founded in 1856. It is considered a true cultural icon of the South Region of Ecuador....
. The director of the school, Dr. Angel Rubén Ojeda, after thinking about it for a month, agreed. Reaction in the community was not very good: mothers prohibited their daughters from befriending her, the local priest forced her to listen to mass two steps outside the church’s entrance. Nevertheless, her mother staunchly defended her daughter. Eventually Matilde graduated with honors and continued her studies at the University of Cuenca
University of Cuenca
University of Cuenca is an Ecuadoran university located in Cuenca. University of Cuenca is the principal university of Azuay Province. The university was founded in 1867....
, obtaining a Doctorate in Medicine in 1923, making her the first Ecuadorian woman to receive such a title. Two years later, Matilde married the lawyer Fernando Procel, and they had two children named: Fernando and Gonzalo Procel, Fernando was a doctor while Gonzalo was an architect
During the presidency of José Luis Tamayo
José Luis Tamayo
José Luis Tamayo was President of Ecuador 1920-1924He was a member of the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party....
, Matilde announced that she was going to vote in the next presidential elections. The issue was put under ministerial consultation, eventually ruling in her favor, and in 1924, Matilde Hidalgo becomes the first woman in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
to exercise her constitutional right to vote in an election.
Matilde opened many more doors: she became the first elected councilwoman of Machala
Machala
Machala is a city in south-west Ecuador. It is the capital of the El Oro Province and located near the Gulf of Guayaquil on fertile lowlands. Machala has a population of 230,901 , making it the fourth biggest city of the country; it has been referred to as the Banana Capital of the...
and, the first vice-president of the Council of Machala. In 1941, she became the first woman candidate and the first elected woman public administrator in Loja, the city that was once horrified by her ambitions.