26 Important women in Spanish history. We tell you! Do you know what day Wednesday is? March 8 marks International Women's Day. A day dedicated to all women on the planet. This celebration has been held since 1910 as a way to praise women.
Do you know what day Wednesday is?
The March 8th is celebrated International Women's Day.
A day dedicated to all women on the planet. This celebration has been held since 1910 as a way to praise women and fight for their rights in society.
In Hispania, Spanish school, we support the Women's Day and that is why we have created this special article.
Let's talk about 26 important women in the history of Spain who have achieved great feats.
Do you want to know who these women are? We present them to you!
Spain has enjoyed great artists in the world of music.
Rocío Jurado is another of the women who have made history in our country.
The reasons? They are mainly the following:
His artistic career was very popular in Spain and other American countries, becoming a cultural icon and a symbol of Spanish music.
Did you know that it was consecrated with the award for Best Female Voice of the 20th Century in New York City in the year 2000? Incredible!
Some of his most famous songs are like a wave, At the starting point or how I love you.
We encourage you to listen to them, they will surely not leave you indifferent. 😉
Lola Flores She is another of the important Spanish women in the world of the music.
We are talking about one of the most emblematic figures of the flamenco in Spain, both as a singer and dancer.
Lola revolutionized the art world and popular culture internationally.
How did he do it? She knew how to perfectly combine her talent for dancing and singing with her sense of humor and her charismatic personality.
Some of his most iconic songs are at your side, Alms of love or Oh shame, shame, shame.
Lola Flores was one of the pioneering women in Spain who spread flamenco and Spanish culture around the world.
For all this, we consider that Lola Flores is one of the historical Spanish women.
Clara Campoamor was one of the most famous Spanish women who fought for equality in the 20th century in Spain.
Lawyer and politician Spanish, Clara Campoamor made crucial advances in women's rights in Spain during the Second Republic (1931-1936):
For all these achievements, Clara Campoamor is considered one of the feminist women of Spanish history most important.
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If we talk about cinema and television, without a doubt an important woman in the history of Spain is Concha Velasco.
Actress, television presenter and dancer, Concha Velasco has participated in more than 50 movies of all possible genres.
Some of them are greatest hits of Spanish cinema like The executioner (1963), The national shotgun (1978) or The man with the wallet (1987).
Her talent has taken her to win many prizes both in film and television.
Furthermore, Concha Velasco has always been a defender of women's rights and has promoted gender equality in Spain.
At 83 years old, Concha Velasco continues to be one of the most admired relevant women in the history of Spain.
How is your backhand in tennis? We assure you that the Arancha Sánchez Vicario it's going very well.
She is considered one of the best spanish tennis players of all time.
Your greatest achievements he got them in the 1980s and 1990s.
She was the winner of four Grand Slam titles, won the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and was the Federation Cup champion three times.
Furthermore, it was number 1 in the world ranking in 1996.
Now you know that Rafa Nadal is not our only exceptional tennis player. 😉
The poor Joan I of Castile She is known by her unfortunate nickname "Juana la Loca."
However, this queen of Castile and LeónHe achieved great milestones in the history of Spain in his reign from 1479 until his death in 1555.
Do you want to know these milestones?
The first and most important was consolidate royal power in Castilla y León after a period of many conflicts and political and economic instability.
Likewise, he managed to expand the territories of Castilla y León and strengthened the country.
The economy also improved a lot with the creation of new trade routes and the expansion of the textile industry.
On the other hand, did you know that Juana was a culture lover?
He built museums and other cultural buildings and sponsored many artists and writers.
As you can see, she is an important woman in the history of Spain who achieved political, economic and cultural advances.
But, unfortunately, most people only know her by her derogatory nickname: Juana "the crazy one."
What is this nickname due to?
Apparently, his behavior was often unstable and he had a rather turbulent love life.
But hey, aren't there other illustrious people who had a problematic way of being?
That does not mean that Joan I of Castile She was one of the great Spanish women.
Did you think we weren't going to include writers famous spanish women in this article?
Of course! Here goes the first one.
Maria Zambrano (1904 – 1991) was a philosopher and writer from Malaga.
It is recognized as one of the most relevant philosophersof the history of our country for his contributions to the philosophy of freedom and the human rights.
His works are mainly about freedom, justice, democracy, poetry and culture.
During the Franco dictatorship he had to exile to France and later to Mexico, where she continued her career as a writer and essayist.
Unfortunately, as was the case with most important women of the 20th century in Spain, all of María Zambrano's work did not receive deserved recognition until the last decades of the last century.
Are you interested in knowing the mentality of this philosopher?
Some of his most famous essays they are:
Talk about the relationship between poetry and philosophy.
Addresses the nature of freedom and its evolution throughout history.
Analyzes how passion and reason build human identity.
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Montserrat Caballé She is another of the important Spanish women who became a musical legend.
It is considered one of the best sopranos in history.
He was born in Barcelona in 1933 and died in 2018.
Caballé began to sing in operas at an early age and quickly became one of the most sought-after singers of her time.
This opera singer is known for her powerful and emotional voice, which allowed him to sing a wide range of roles in operas by Mozart, Verdi and Puccini, among others.
Additionally, Caballé is also known for her ability to fusing Italian Bel Canto with Spanish style, creating a unique and distinctive style.
Throughout her career, Montserrat Caballé performed on the stages of the world's main operas.
His interpretation of the opera Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti is considered one of the most great performances in history.
The time has come to talk about important Spanish women scientists.
Margarita Salas (1938 – 2019) is ours most famous biologist and biochemist. Because?
Among his most important contributions are his discoveries about DNA.
Margarita was the first person to demonstrate the existence of DNA replication and transcription enzymes.
He also carried out important research on the structure and function of proteins.
For these reasons, Margarita Salas has renown in the scientific community world and has received multiple awards and honors. Long live Margaret! 🙌🏻
If we talk about famous women in history, Isabel I of Castile is one of the most relevant, not only in Spain, but worldwide.
Known as Isabella the Catholic, this woman reigned from 1476 to 1504.
His greatest contribution was unification of the countrywith the union of the kingdom of Castile with the kingdom of Aragon, which until then had been divided.
Isabella the Catholic and Ferdinand of Aragon became the catholic kings and created a strong and Christian unified State in Spain.
Both promoted territorial expansion and financed the Christopher Columbus expedition to America.
Elizabeth I also did political and economic reforms important in Spain and supported the Church to strengthen its power in the country and in the American colonies.
Did you know all this information? What kind of History have we given you in a moment! 😁
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Rosalía is one of the current important Spanish women most famous.
Rosalía is a singer and songwriter Spanish that has caused a stir in the world of music in recent years.
With its mix of traditional flamenco and modern pop music, Rosalía has managed to create a unique style that has captivated the public.
Some call it "The queen of modern flamenco».
She is a versatile artist who is not afraid to experiment with new sounds and musical styles, generating totally innovative songs.
Some of his most successful songs are Badly (2018) or Motomami (2022).
In addition to her music, Rosalía has also known how to create a unique style and daring.
With her exotic costumes and her presence on social networks, the young Catalan has gained millions of fans around the world.
Without a doubt, one of the most important women in Spain today.
Mariana Pineda (1804 – 1831) was a spanish heroin of the 19th century, known for its fight for freedom and social justice.
It became a resistance symbol against the absolutist regime of Fernando VII.
He was faithful to his revolutionary ideals until the end of her life, when the absolutist regime shot her.
His bravery and heroic sacrifice have been remembered on many occasions in poetry, music and theater, making his life even more epic.
Unfortunately, today very few people know Mariana Pineda. She is one of the great forgotten women in Spanish history.
We hope that our small dedication serves to bring her back to memory.
Can it be singer and actress at the same time? Sara Montiel did it, and everywhere she went she swept.
Sara Montiel (1928-2013) was one of the Spanish women who made history both in music and in cinema thanks to her charisma and enormous beauty.
Montiel began his career in Spanish cinema in the 50s and quickly became a international star.
Some of the most notable films who starred are:
This was the film that brought her to stardom.
In this film Sara Montiel gives one of the best performances in her entire career as an actress.
Considered one of the best Spanish films of all time.
Montiel also harvested musical hits national and international in his musical career.
Everything this woman touched turned to gold!
We return to the world of music.
Concha Piquer (1906 – 1990) was another great Spanish singer and actress, especially during the first half of the 20th century.
His favorite style was flamenco and copla. With his unique voice and his mastery of interpreting popular songs, he helped popularize traditional Spanish culture and music in our country and abroad.
In addition, he also had leading roles in films and plays, which helped expand his reputation even further.
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Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885) was a Galician poet, writer and activist.
This famous writer is known for her contribution to preservation of the Galician language at a time when it was about to disappear.
Thanks to your books too made Galician culture visible and its traditions, revaluing them again.
On the other hand, Rosalía de Castro also She fought for women's rights.
We can see themes such as oppression of women and gender inequality in works such as Galician songs, You fuck newbies or Rappaccini's daughter.
As you can see, already in the 19th century there were important women in Spanish literature who dealt with feminism.
Emilia Pardo Bazan (1851 – 1929) was one of the important Spanish women in history more multifaceted.
Emilia was a countess, novelist, journalist, playwright, poet, translator, editor, essayist and professor. Next to nothing! 👏🏻
His works are marked by a strong feminist ideology who defended the women's liberation in all areas: work, studies, leisure, sexuality...
If you are interested in knowing some of their most famous works, you can start with The mansions of Ulloa (1886), The Tribune (1882) or The cornerstone (1891).
Dolores Ibarruri (1895 – 1989), also known as "The Passionflower", is one of the most important women in the history of Spain.
It was a politician and speaker during the Spanish Civil War and the postwar.
He had an important role in Communist Party of Spain and in the fight against fascism.
Daba passionate speeches and inspiring people who convinced people to unite against the Francoists.
Ibárruri also worked hard for women's rights and to improve their situation in Spanish society.
He also had his side of writer. in his book heroic Spain His speeches and writings during the Civil War are collected.
If you want to know his feelings more in depth you can read poems, or his biographical book Life and struggles of Dolores Ibárruri.
Federica Montseny(1905 – 1994) is one of the famous women in the history of Spain for several reasons.
She became the first woman to occupy a position of minister in Spain and throughout the world, during the Second Republic in 1936. She was the Minister of Health and Social Assistance.
He participated in the Spanish anarchist movement and she was a staunch defender of women's rights and individual freedom.
You can see these ideas in some of their books, like Anarchism and women or For freedom.
Have there not been important women in Spain whose profession was painting?
Of course yes! For example, we have Maruja Mallo.
Maruja Mallo (1902 – 1995) was a painter of the surrealist genre.
If you know Dalí's work, you surely know what it is like surrealism pictorial.
She was one of the exponents of the Generation of '27.
The most avant-garde Spanish artists of the first half of the last century belonged to this generation.
Some of the most famous paintings from Maruja are The festival and fossil den.
They are very different from each other. The first is colorful and very overloaded. The second, on the other hand, is dull and disturbing.
Are you curious to know more works by Maruja Mallo?
You can find most of his works at Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid.
Ana Botín is ours Spanish businesswoman and banker most famous today. Ranked 15th on the list of 100most powerful women in the world. 😯
It is the president of Banco Santander, one of the largest banks in Europe. His leadership and financial vision have been key to the success of this bank.
Botín is also known for promoting financial inclusion. That is, expanding access to financial services to people who previously did not have the opportunity to do so.
She follows a responsible business model with the community, trying to promote equality and combat poverty.
In addition, she is also an art lover and sponsors many museums and art galleries.
Entrepreneurs like this should be around! 👍🏻
Carmen de Burgos (1867 – 1932) is considered one of the first feminists in Spain.
Worked as writer and journalist. I wrote about totally subversive themes for the time such as gender equality, sexual liberation and women's education.
Some of his most notable books that address these issues are The women's tribune, The telltale heart or Mrs. Frida.
Carmen de Burgos is one of the women precursors of feminism in Spain. Her legacy continues to inspire defenders of women's rights in our country.
Concepcion Arenal (1820 – 1893) was another of the historical women who were precursors of feminism in Spain.
In addition to demanding equality between women and men, she also defended the free access to educationand that women could practice professions that were prohibited at that time.
Concepción is also known as the precursor of the Social Work in Spain.
This Spanish writer was framed in the genre of literary realism.
Some of his most famous works are:
When we think of Spanish military heroes, almost everyone thinks of El Cid.
But, you know what? We also have our female heroine!
Catherine of Erauso (1592 – 1650) was a soldier who fought in the South American wars.
Not only did she fight, but she was also a great explorer which toured all of South America and Europe.
Do you know that before becoming a soldier, Catalina was a nun? How did you go about joining the army and traveling the world?
In those years only men could do it. But Catalina wanted with all her strength travel and live adventures.
To achieve this, she had to disguise herself as a man, only in this way could she break the impositions that society placed on her for being a woman.
There is no doubt that the life of Catalina de Erauso is a good example of fight for freedom and to achieve your dreams, despite the obstacles that society places on you.
Her legacy still lives on today as one of the great Spanish heroines and continues to inspire us.
Almudena Grandes (1960 – 2021) was one of the journalistsand famous Spanish writers.
Almudena used to write about social and political issues always in a satirical way and with an acid sense of humor.
He worked in many media in Spain and also published books.
Some of the books by Almudena Grandes most acclaimed are:
Both his novels and his journalistic work have always been valued positively due to his critical look at politics and society and for his defense of human rights.
For all this, Almudena Grandes deserves to be on the podium of famous women in the history of Spain.
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In this list of famous spanish people There is also a place for the world of sports. Do you like football?
Alexia Putellas is a Spanish footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Barcelona Femenino and the Spanish women's soccer team.
Born in 1995 in Castellón de la Plana, Putellas began playing soccer at an early age and quickly became one of the most quality players of her generation.
Alexia stands out for her ability to control the game in the midfield and for his vision of the game.
Furthermore, this young soccer player is also a great scorer and his physical prowess allows him to have a very offensive style in games.
He has participated in important international tournamentswith the Spanish women's football team, such as the UEFA Nations League or the UEFA European Championship.
In 2019, Putellas helped the Spanish team to its first victory at the UEFA European Championship.
Today, Alexia is one of the most promising Spanish footballers. For this reason, we consider her to be one of the outstanding contemporary women.
Elena Maseras (1853 – 1905) is a code name of the women in Spanish science.
She was the first Spanish woman who was able to enroll in university. He entered the university of Barcelona to study medicine.
In Spain and almost all of Europe, women were not able to access qualified studies until just a century ago.
At first she couldn't attend class, only study privately. In 1875 she was admitted to the classroom, but could not sit with her male classmates. He had his seat on a platform next to the teacher.
Despite getting very good grades, I had many obstacles to obtain his medical degree. He could not have it until 1882, four years after graduating.
Already with her degree to practice medicine, Elena continued to have bureaucratic problems in working due to the simple fact of being a woman.
Finally he chose to dedicate himself to teaching.
She was key to the future integration of women in university access.
In 1888, women were admitted to the university for the first time, but only as private students, separated from their peers.
It wasn't until 1910 when women could finally study on equal terms with men at the university and freely exercise the profession for which they had been trained.
And with Elena Maseras we finish this list of the 26 most important Spanish women.
We have talked about important women of the 21st century in Spain and also from past centuries.
All of them have contributed very valuable things to our society through his music, his books, his scientific discoveries, his films or his political ideas.
Did you like the article? Furthermore, it will have helped you learn about the history of Spain recent and oldest Super interesting!
Do you want to learn more about our culture and our language?
In Hispania, Spanish school we offer face-to-face Spanish courses and online Spanish courses in which you will learn the Spanish language in a short time thanks to our eminently practical approach.
Which of the women we have seen in the article do you find most inspiring?
Which one do you feel most identified with?
Tell us and we'll talk. 😉
Article written by Charles Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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