There is no doubt that you have heard of Eva Perón. Since her death in 1952, there have been plays, musicals, books and movies based on her life. She rose to fame when she married Colonel Juan Perón who became the President of Argentina in 1946. She served as the First Lady of Argentina from 1946 to 1952. Her full name was María Eva Duarte de Perón, although she was usually affectionately referred to as Evita, “Little Eva.” Aside from being the First Lady of Argentina, in 1952 the Argentine Congress gave her the official title of the “Spiritual Leader of the Nation.”
Eva was born in rural Argentina in 1919. At the age of 15, she moved to Buenos Aires to pursue a career as a stage, radio and film actress. She had a semi-successful career as an actress, but really began her life in the public light when she married Perón. Her passionate loyalty to the people of the “pueblo” earned her support throughout the country. In her six years in office, Eva became very powerful within the Pro-Peronist trade unions, speaking on behalf of labor rights. She ran the Ministries of Labor and Health and founded her own charitable Eva Perón Foundation, which employed thousands of workers and provided thousands upon thousands of essentials to Argentine families in need.
When Eva came into office, women were largely absent from the political process in Argentina and were not even allowed to vote. Eva Perón campaigned against women’s suffrage and in the late 1940´s founded the nation’s first large-scale female political party, the Female Peronist Party. Cristina Fernández, the first female president of Argentina says that women of our generation owe a debt to Eva for “her example of passion combativeness.”
“Eva Perón is an Argentinian, controversial icon” says Florencia Bozzano, Director/Founder of Íbero Spanish School.
Eva Perón died from cancer in 1952, although her legacy continues to live on in Argentina. Íbero Spanish School wants to share with you the life and accomplishments of Eva Perón. In this special class, you will learn about Eva’s childhood in rural Argentina, her early years as an actress in Buenos Aires and all of her success in being First Lady to Juan Perón. This is unforgettable course combining Spanish and one of the most iconic politicians of the century.
