Foto: Noticias ONU/Daniel Johnson
Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Spanish-speaking Latin America has been the stage for fundamental advances in women’s rights, often ahead of European countries. From voting rights to political parity and reproductive rights, the region has demonstrated that the feminist struggle is not exclusive to the so-called “First World.” However, these achievements have not occurred at the same pace across all countries, reflecting both significant victories and ongoing inequalities.
Women’s Right to Vote: Latin America Paving the Way
One of the most important milestones in the fight for equality was the right to vote. While history often focuses on advances in Europe and North America, the truth is that Latin America took the lead in several instances.
Uruguay became the first Latin American country to grant women’s suffrage in 1927, a victory that preceded countries like France (1944) or Switzerland (1971) (World Atlas). Just two years later, in 1929, Ecuador became the first Latin American country to allow all women to vote without restrictions, a right that would take much longer to solidify in many European countries (BBC Mundo).
As the century progressed, other nations followed suit: Argentina in 1947, Mexico in 1953, Colombia in 1954, and Peru in 1955. By comparison, Portugal did not grant full women’s suffrage until 1976 (Revista Time).
Women in Politics: Presidents and Representation in Congress
Access to leadership positions has been a gradual process, but Latin America has shown that power is not exclusive to men.
Countries like Chile, Honduras, and Peru have elected women to the presidency in recent years, challenging political structures historically dominated by men. Michelle Bachelet in Chile (2006 and 2014), Xiomara Castro in Honduras (2022), and Dina Boluarte in Peru (2022) have all held the highest office in their countries, while in other regions of the world, female presence in the executive remains an exception (United Nations).
Beyond individual roles, women’s presence in decision-making spaces has been driven by structural changes. In 1991, Argentina set a precedent with its Women’s Quota Law, which mandated that at least 30% of legislative candidates be women. This model was followed by several countries in the region, including Mexico and Colombia, strengthening women’s political participation (IPU).
Civil Rights: Marriage, Divorce, and Legal Autonomy
Transformations in civil matters have been another cornerstone in the history of women’s rights in Latin America.
In the early 20th century, Uruguay once again led the way with revolutionary legislation: in 1907, it allowed women to request a divorce, a right that would take decades to be established in many European countries.
Access to higher education was also a key battle. In 1877, Chile passed the Amunátegui Decree, which allowed women to attend university, an advancement that was not guaranteed in much of Europe at the time.
In more recent times, the fight for civil equality has led to the approval of same-sex marriage in Argentina (2010) and Mexico (2015-2022), much earlier than in countries such as Germany (2017) or Italy (2023), ensuring equal rights for all women, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Reproductive Rights and Sexual Health
Access to sexual and reproductive rights has been one of the most difficult struggles, but Latin America has also made notable strides.
Cuba legalised abortion in 1965, and Uruguay followed suit in 2012, establishing models that guarantee women’s autonomy over their bodies before countries like Spain (2010) or Ireland (2018) (WOMEN’S HEALTH). In the past decade, Argentina (2020) and Mexico (2021) have followed suit, although in many countries in the region, access is still limited or criminalised (HRNJ).
A Path of Struggles and Advances
The history of women’s rights in Latin America is one of victories, but also of challenges. While the region has been a pioneer in many areas, gaps remain in terms of access to opportunities, equal pay, and gender-based violence.
What remains clear is that feminism in Latin America has not been a late reflection of European or U.S. struggles, but a movement with its own identity, capable of driving profound change, and, in many cases, ahead of the rest of the world (UN Women).
