Born: 1878 (Guarda, Portugal)
Died: 1911
Biography:
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo (16 April 1878 – 3 October 1911) was a Portuguese physician and a trailblazer in the fight for women’s rights and suffrage in Portugal. She made history as the first woman to vote in her country, leaving a lasting impact on the progress of women’s empowerment.
Born in the city of Guarda, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo grew up in a society where women’s rights were highly limited. However, her passion for education and her desire to make a difference led her to pursue a career in medicine. She enrolled in medical school at the University of Lisbon, determined to challenge the societal norms and make significant strides for women in her field.
As a medical doctor practicing in Lisbon, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo faced many obstacles along her journey. She encountered discrimination and resistance from male peers who were skeptical of women’s capabilities in the medical profession. Undeterred by these challenges, she persevered and became a respected physician, demonstrating her expertise and proving her worth in a male-dominated profession.
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo was not only a trailblazer in medicine but also a passionate advocate for women’s rights. She actively participated in various women’s associations, including the Portuguese Women’s Republican League. In collaboration with Adelaide Cabete, she founded the Portuguese Association of Feminist Propaganda (Associação de Propaganda Feminista) in 1911, with Ana de Castro Osório later becoming its head. Through these organizations, she tirelessly fought for gender equality and women’s suffrage, challenging the patriarchal system that denied women their basic rights.
The pivotal moment in Carolina Beatriz Ângelo’s life came on 28 May 1911, during the first elections held in Portugal following the fall of the monarchy. Taking advantage of the ambiguity of the law, which granted voting rights to literate head-of-households over 21, she cast her vote. As a widow and the mother of a daughter, she qualified as a head-of-household, allowing her to exercise her right to vote. This historic act made her the first woman in Portugal to vote, and her actions resonated with women across the country and beyond.
Carolina Beatriz Ângelo’s stand for women’s suffrage received widespread attention and sparked discussions about gender equality in Portugal. Her bold act of defiance paved the way for subsequent generations of women to demand their fundamental rights, creating a lasting legacy of progress in the movement for women’s empowerment.
Despite her groundbreaking achievement, the victory was short-lived. Just two years later, in 1913, a law was passed specifying that the right to vote was exclusive to literate male citizens over the age of 21. However, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo’s courage and determination inspired countless women to continue the fight and fueled the momentum for change.
Today, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo is remembered as a trailblazer and an icon of women’s rights in Portugal. Her courageous act of voting serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of women throughout history who have fought for equality. Her contributions to the feminist movement continue to inspire and empower women around the world.