Eva Per�n aka Evita

Originally posted by Penelope Eva Per�n died at the age of 33, at the peak of her popularity, her myth continues to remain�intact,�burning most brightly among poor people, who can be seen placing flowers each Sunday in Recoletaandon, on her tomb to this day. She remains one of the most important symbols in ALL history. � But im sorta confused as to why she is never brought up in conversations about "historicly powerful women". Especially since she is considered to be the most powerful, and most influentual woman�in South America's history. � What are your thoughts and opinions about her?

Thank you Penelope, and welcome to the women's history forum at AE. This is a very interesting and, perhaps, one of the most powerful woman of our time.   She went from being a poverty stricken illegitimate child to the First Lady of Argentina and vice-president of Argentina. That�s quite an achievement for any woman (especially at such a young age). She was loved by the poor people for her contributions in building homes, hospitals, schools and giving jobs to thousands of Argentineans. She gave women in Argentina the right to vote and organized the Eva Peron Foundation and the Peronista Feminist Party. However, the upper class despised her, saying she �slept� her way to the top (in retaliation, Evita cut their funding). She was not very popular with many outsiders as well. While she was in Europe, the pope denied her a title. British royalty publicly refused to admit her entrance to Buckingham Palace. Even in the U.S. she was insulted when Time magazine revealed that she was �illegitimate� - the magazine was banned in Argentina for four months.

When Argentina�s army threatened to revolt (they were not happy that a woman had so much power [as vice president] and was so popular with the people), Juan Peron told her to step down. She died of uterine cancer at 33 years of age. Had she lived, maybe she could have become President of Argentina...but, we will never know that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Per%C3%B3n

Originally posted by Penelope Morticia, thankyou very much. And yes, had she lived, she would have�become�the World's First Female President. Per�n's third wife, Isabel Per�n, actually became president in her place.

It seems as though the Argentinean people wanted anyone but JUAN PERON to be President!

Yes, the "macho" stereotype is one of the funniest things for insiders. Everyone knows in Latin America who is the boss at home .

Originally posted by Mixcoatl Considering the machista stereotype of Latin America, it is rather surprising to see that so many Latin American countries had a female president. Not only Isabel Per�n in Argentina, but also Lidia Gueiler in Bolivia, Mireya Moscoso in Panama, Violeta Barrios in Nicaragua and now also Michele Bachelet in Chile.It is however also noteworthy that most of them (Per�n, Moscoso, Barrios) were wives of important (male) politicians.

Right, Mixcoatl. Also noteworthy is how these women were very much admired by the people and yet those same people despised their husbands. Enough said about "machos"!   

Yea in many latin societies, women are very much respected. A lot of women deserve the utmost respect though.

Originally posted by pinguin Originally posted by morticia ...That's right, Pinguin! The "macho" man is the boss!   Well, that's just a matter of public relations. I am not talking about sick people in here but just normal couples. In these case it is usual man "pretends" to be the boss in public, but woman have the control in private .   Latino men are usually just grown up children , overprotected by mom, controlled (and sometimes protected) by the wife and cared by the dauther in later years. Besides, many pray to Virgin Mary for celestial protection as well   Pinguin

Yes, I am afraid Latino women is the boss at home .... I am married with one .