Elena Caffarena's 119th Birthday

Today’s Doodle—illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu—celebrates the 119th birthday of Elena Caffarena, a feminist lawyer who helped Chilean women win the right to vote in national elections. Considered one of the most important Chilean public figures of the 20th century, Caffarena spearheaded Chile’s workers' rights and women’s rights movements.

Caffarena came of age during a time when the working class labored in perilous conditions to earn meager wages. Caffarena attended the University of Chile in the early 1920s and became one of the first Chilean women to earn a law degree. Around this time, she met Luis Emilio Recabarren, a former low-wage worker and union organizer.  He deepened her determination to fight for the rights of underserved communities.

In 1935, Caffarena co-founded the Movement for the Emancipation of Chilean Women, the first national group to advocate for equal salaries and opportunities for women. Thanks to a bill that Caffarena co-wrote, the Chilean feminists achieved universal suffrage in 1949.

Today’s Doodle celebrates her birthday and reflects on all she accomplished for the Chilean working class and women!
 

Guest Artist Q&A with Catalina Bu

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Chile-based guest artist Catalina Bu. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A: This topic was very meaningful to me, as Elena’s represents a huge step in chilean feminism.
 

Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle?

A: I was very honored to be able to portrait her, but also kinda nervous because I’ve always wanted to make a Doodle!
 

Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A: Before I began to sketch the piece, I collected pictures from the national digital archive and made a moodboard with photos that documented Elena’s work and women who fought with her. I wanted to be very faithful with their spirit and to focus on her political work. In the Doodle, she’s leading a march demanding women's right to vote: one of her most important contributions to our civil rights, as we couldn't participate in polls until 1949. Along her, there are diverse woman from that time but also a modern girl with a mapuche, representing today’s chilean feminist movement.
 

Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: I think all of these women protesting and holding hands stands for sorority and the importance of being together and speaking up against misogyny.

Check out some Behind-the-Scenes
photos for today’s Doodle artwork