Clara Campoamor, mother of the spanish feminist movement
- npoelaert0
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Clara Campoamor Rodríguez (1888–1972) is widely regarded as the mother of the Spanish feminist movement and one of the most influential figures in the fight for women’s rights in Spain. Born on February 12, 1888, in Madrid, into a working-class family, Campoamor’s early life was marked by hardship. Her father’s death when she was just ten years old forced her to leave school and begin working to support her family. Despite these challenges, she pursued her education later in life, eventually becoming one of Spain’s first female lawyers at the age of 36. Before her legal career, she worked in various jobs, including as a seamstress, shop attendant, telegraph assistant, and teacher, experiences that deeply influenced her social and political consciousness.
Campoamor’s political career took off with the advent of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. As a member of the Radical Party, she was elected to the Constituent Assembly, where she became a vocal advocate for women’s suffrage. Her most famous achievement came during the drafting of the 1931 Spanish Constitution, where she successfully argued for the inclusion of women’s right to vote—a radical and controversial position at the time. Her impassioned speeches in parliament, notably her debate with fellow deputy Victoria Kent (who opposed women’s suffrage for strategic reasons), were pivotal in securing the vote for Spanish women. The Constitution of 1931 ultimately granted universal suffrage, allowing women to vote for the first time in the 1933 elections.
Beyond suffrage, Campoamor championed a range of progressive causes, including legal equality for children born inside and outside of marriage, the right to divorce, and greater legal protections for women. Her political career, however, was cut short by the rise of conservative forces and the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Disillusioned by the failure of the Republic and facing political persecution, she went into exile in 1936, first in Argentina and later in Switzerland, where she continued to write and advocate for women’s rights until her death on April 30, 1972. In exile, she refused to compromise her principles, even when offered the chance to return to Spain under Franco’s regime if she recanted her political views.
Campoamor’s legacy extends beyond her political achievements. She was also a prolific writer, authoring biographies and essays that highlighted the struggles and contributions of women. Her autobiography, Mi pecado mortal: el voto femenino y yo (My Mortal Sin: Women’s Suffrage and I), reflects on her life and the challenges she faced in her fight for equality. In recognition of her contributions, numerous tributes have been made in her honor, including awards, monuments, and the naming of public spaces and institutions after her. Today, Clara Campoamor is celebrated as a symbol of courage, principle, and the enduring struggle for gender equality.
