Apr 19, 2022
Dr. Elvira Rawson's 155th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the 155th birthday of Dr. Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane, a prominent first-wave feminist in Argentina who was also one of the country’s first female doctors.
Born in Buenos Aires, Rawson grew up in a tight-knit community where rich and poor neighbors looked after one another. As a child, she often saw acts of kindness promoting economic equality, and Rawson was determined to leave her mark on history, too.
After graduating from medical school in 1892, a time when women’s perspectives were missing from medical literature, Dr. Rawson initiated early efforts to study reproduction from a female point of view. Her work helped to reduce the stigma surrounding reproductive health.
In 1910, she joined forces with prominent suffragists all over the world by participating in the First International Women's Congress in Buenos Aires. It laid the groundwork for women’s rights movements not only in Argentina, but throughout Latin America. In 1919, Dr. Rawson co-founded the Women's Rights Association, which mobilized women to demand equal pay and the right to vote. Considered radical at the time, the group’s efforts did not lead to many concrete policy changes. Although, the movement received attention from major political parties and set a foundation for later feminist movements.
Throughout her career, Dr. Rawson also advocated for the health and wellbeing of children. She worked as a medical inspector for the National Department of Hygiene and later the National Council of Education, where she helped establish cafeterias in schools.
Thanks to her work and movements, women and children in Argentina have more opportunities. Today is a celebration of Dr. Elvira Rawson’s steadfast belief that a woman can—and will—achieve anything.
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