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*''']'''<br />'' track and field athlete.'' *''']'''<br />'' track and field athlete.''


== Notable Stateside Puerto Rican women == == Notable stateside Puerto Rican women ==
{{Main|List of Puerto Ricans}} {{Main|List of Puerto Ricans}}
Women from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent that have become prominent in the mainland United States include the following: Women from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent that have become prominent in the mainland United States include the following:

'''Actresses, comedians and directors''' '''Actresses, comedians and directors'''

*''']''', documentary director and producer


*''' ]''', actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre<br />''(film ''])'' *''' ]''', actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre<br />''(film ''])''

*''' ]''', actress, choreographer and dancer


*''' ]''', actress, singer, dancer *''' ]''', actress, singer, dancer
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*''']''', actress<br />''"Broadway Legend", winner of two ]s'' *''']''', actress<br />''"Broadway Legend", winner of two ]s''

*''']''',<br />''first Puerto Rican actress to appear in a major Hollywood motion picture – ]''<ref name="roadtorio">{{IMDb name|1258320|Marquita Rivera}}. Retrieved 14 April 2008</ref>

*''']''', actress<br />''(films '']'', '']'')''


'''Authors, playwrights and poets''' '''Authors, playwrights and poets'''


*''']''', author<br />''First Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.''<ref>"Pura Belpré: The Children's Ambassador". In Vicki Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol, ''Latina Legacies: Identity, Biography, and Community'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. 148-157</ref> *''']''', author<br />''First Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.''<ref>"Pura Belpré: The Children's Ambassador". In Vicki Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol, ''Latina Legacies: Identity, Biography, and Community'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. 148-157</ref>

*''']''', poet<br />''Benítez de Gautier's collaboration with the "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño" (Collection of Puerto Rican Poetry) gave her recognition as a great poet.''<ref name="AL"></ref>

*''']''', poet<br />''Burgos is considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico.''<ref></ref>

*''']''', writer, educator and advocate of Puerto Rican independence.<ref name="IFM"></ref>

* ''']''', writer<ref name=ensayistas>{{Es icon}} Retrieved 6 January 2007.</ref>


*''']''', writer<br />''Her works, among which is the novel ''Nilda'', tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the ] and ] and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States.<ref></ref><ref></ref> In 1973, she became the first Hispanic woman in the modern times to have her literary works published by the major commercial publishing houses, and she has developed the longest career as a creative writer for these publishing houses than any other Hispanic female writer.<ref name="HF">"Hispanic Firsts", By; Nicolas Kanellos, publisher Visible Ink Press; ISBN 0-7876-0519-0; p.40</ref>'' *''']''', writer<br />''Her works, among which is the novel ''Nilda'', tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the ] and ] and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States.<ref></ref><ref></ref> In 1973, she became the first Hispanic woman in the modern times to have her literary works published by the major commercial publishing houses, and she has developed the longest career as a creative writer for these publishing houses than any other Hispanic female writer.<ref name="HF">"Hispanic Firsts", By; Nicolas Kanellos, publisher Visible Ink Press; ISBN 0-7876-0519-0; p.40</ref>''

*''']''', a.k.a. "]", poet<br />''Negrón Muñoz was an influential poet whose work dealt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican.''<ref></ref>


*''']''', poet, writer and essayist.<br>''In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story "The Latin Deli". In 1996, Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children's literature.<ref name="HF"/><ref name="joc"></ref>'' *''']''', poet, writer and essayist.<br>''In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story "The Latin Deli". In 1996, Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children's literature.<ref name="HF"/><ref name="joc"></ref>''


*''']''', author<br /> ''Ostow wrote of "Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane". Her novel, "Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa", was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.''<ref></ref> *''']''', author<br /> ''Ostow wrote of "Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane". Her novel, "Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa", was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.''<ref></ref>

*''']''', poet<br />'' Rodríguez de Tió wrote lyrics to the revolutionary "]"''.

*''']''', author<ref> on ]</ref>


'''Businesswomen and industrialists''' '''Businesswomen and industrialists'''


*''']'''<br /> ''First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub-cabinet level position in the White House (Small Business Administrator 1997–2000).'' *''']'''<br /> ''First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub-cabinet level position in the White House (Small Business Administrator 1997–2000).''

*''']'''<br />'' Fashion designer''

*''']'''<br />''Former SBA Regional Director, first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President.''


*''']'''<br />'' President of ] Entertainment. She is the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series.''<ref></ref> *''']'''<br />'' President of ] Entertainment. She is the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series.''<ref></ref>

*''']'''<br />''Valdés is the President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery.''<ref name="CVB"></ref>


*''']'''<br />'' Vizcarrondo-De Soto is the first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.''<ref name="EDLP"></ref> *''']'''<br />'' Vizcarrondo-De Soto is the first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.''<ref name="EDLP"></ref>


'''Civil rights and/or political activists''' '''Civil rights and/or political activists'''

*''']''' Political activist<br /> '' Mercedes Barbudo is considered to be the first female from ] "Independentista" meaning that she was the woman to become an avid advocate of the Puerto Rican Independence.''.<ref name="MIP"></ref>

*''']''' a.k.a. "Brazo de Oro" (Golden Arm) Political activist<br />'' Bracetti was the leader of the "Lares's Revolutionary Council" during the ]. Bracetti knit the first flag of the future "Republic of Puerto Rico".''

* ''']''' Women rights activist<br />'' Women rights activist and one the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree.''

*''']''' Political activist<br />'' Nationalist leader who led the ] in 1950 against U.S. colonial rule of Puerto Rico.''

*''']''' Civil Rights activist<br />'' Young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship.''<ref></ref>

*''']''' Political activist<br />''Nationalist leader and activist. Lebrón was the leader of a group of nationalists, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives in 1954.''


*''']''' Civil Rights activist and educator<br />''Mendez was eight years old when she played an instrumental role in the '']'' case, the landmark desegregation case of 1946. The case successfully ended '']'' segregation in California.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=5 April 2007|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20060911/ai_n16721150|title=Mendez case paved way for Brown v. Board|work=Topeka Capital-Journal|date=11 September 2006|author=Geisler, Lindsey}}</ref> and paved the way for ] and the ].<ref name="Sauceda">"{{cite journal|journal=People en Español|title=Cambio Historico (Historic Change) |date=28 March 2007|author=Sauceda, Isis|pages=pages 111–112|language=Spanish}}</ref>'' *''']''' Civil Rights activist and educator<br />''Mendez was eight years old when she played an instrumental role in the '']'' case, the landmark desegregation case of 1946. The case successfully ended '']'' segregation in California.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=5 April 2007|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20060911/ai_n16721150|title=Mendez case paved way for Brown v. Board|work=Topeka Capital-Journal|date=11 September 2006|author=Geisler, Lindsey}}</ref> and paved the way for ] and the ].<ref name="Sauceda">"{{cite journal|journal=People en Español|title=Cambio Historico (Historic Change) |date=28 March 2007|author=Sauceda, Isis|pages=pages 111–112|language=Spanish}}</ref>''

*''']''' Women Rights activist and educator<br />''In 1929, O'Neill became the first female professor in the field of Comerence in the University of Puerto Rico, a discipline which she taught until 1951. As a women's rights activist, she urged women to participate in every aspect of civic life and to defend their right to vote.<ref name="END"></ref>''


* ''']''' Physician and women's rights activist.<br>''Rodriguez-Trias was the first Latina president of the ], a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association, and the recipient of the ]. She is credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations in the United States, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.<ref name="FoM"></ref> '' * ''']''' Physician and women's rights activist.<br>''Rodriguez-Trias was the first Latina president of the ], a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association, and the recipient of the ]. She is credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations in the United States, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.<ref name="FoM"></ref> ''

*''']''' Women Rights activist<br />''Roque was an educator and suffragist. She was also one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico.''
* ''']''' Political activist<br />''member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. During the late 1940s she became a student leader at the ] and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party's branch in Río Piedras.''


'''Composers, musicians and singers''' '''Composers, musicians and singers'''

*''']''' a.k.a. "Lucecita", Singer

*''']''', Singer

*''']''', Singer and vedette

*''']''', Singer

*''']''', Singer, composer

*''']''', Singer of Danzas


*''']''' or "La Gorda de Oro" and "Madame Chencha", Singer, composer *''']''' or "La Gorda de Oro" and "Madame Chencha", Singer, composer
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'''Educators''' '''Educators'''

* ''']''' Educator<br />''Founder of the Department of Hispanic Studies in the University of Puerto Rico.''

* ''']''' Educator and author<br />'' Coll was President of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan. She was also the founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.<ref name="ReferenceB">"Tras las Huellas de Nuestro Paso"; by: Ildelfonso López; Publisher: AEELA, 1998</ref>

*''']''' Educator<br />''Founder of the ].''


*''']'''<br />'' President of the New York City Board of Education 2000–2002.'' *''']'''<br />'' President of the New York City Board of Education 2000–2002.''

*''']''' Educator<br />''Early 1900s Educator: at a time when most people in Ponce, as most of Puerto Rico, did not know how to read and write, and when teachers were paid only $50 per month, even in the large cities, Tizol took it upon herself to overcome all challenges to help others.''<ref></ref>

*''']''' Educator<br /> ''Vientos Gaston was the first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico. She defended the use of the Spanish language in the courts of Puerto Rico, before the Supreme Court, and won''

'''Governors'''

*''']'''<br />''first female governor of Puerto Rico, elected in November 2000. She was the former mayor of San Juan.''<ref name=PBS>, Almost a Woman, PBS, New York</ref>

'''Historians'''

* ''']''', historian, author<br />''Arrigoitia was the first person in the University of Puerto Rico to earn a Masters Degree in the field of history. In 2010, her book, "Puerto Rico Por Encima de Todo: Vida y Obra de Antonio R. Barceló, 1868–1938", was recognized among the best in the category of "research and criticism" and awarded a first place prize by the ].<ref></ref>


'''Journalists''' '''Journalists'''


*''']''',<br />''Anchor for "Al Rojo Vivo"''.<ref></ref> *''']''',<br />''Anchor for "Al Rojo Vivo"''.<ref></ref>

*''']''', journalist and author<br />''Cuchi Coll was the granddaughter of ] and niece of ]<br />'' She served as Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueños''<ref name="ReferenceB"/>


*''']''',<br />''Journalist, co-host of ]s "Primer Impacto"''. *''']''',<br />''Journalist, co-host of ]s "Primer Impacto"''.

*''']''',<br /> ''Journalist, first Puerto Rican woman named news anchor in Puerto Rico''.


*''']''',<br />''Former co-anchor ] ]''.<ref></ref> *''']''',<br />''Former co-anchor ] ]''.<ref></ref>
Line 342: Line 264:


*''']''', Captain, U.S. Air Force<br />''In 1980, Garcia Cubero, who is of Mexican-American/Puerto Rican heritage, became the first Hispanic woman graduate of the ] and the first to graduate from an American Military Academy.''<ref name="Latina Style Magazine">{{cite news|first=Linda|last=Garcia Cubero|title=Punto Final!|work=]|accessdate=24 March 2009|quote=|url=http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/punto.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090303163232/http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/punto.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=3 March 2009}}</ref> *''']''', Captain, U.S. Air Force<br />''In 1980, Garcia Cubero, who is of Mexican-American/Puerto Rican heritage, became the first Hispanic woman graduate of the ] and the first to graduate from an American Military Academy.''<ref name="Latina Style Magazine">{{cite news|first=Linda|last=Garcia Cubero|title=Punto Final!|work=]|accessdate=24 March 2009|quote=|url=http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/punto.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090303163232/http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/punto.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=3 March 2009}}</ref>

*''']''', Private First Class, U.S. Women's Army Corps<br />'' García Rosado was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the ]'s during World War II and the author of "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), which is the first book which documents the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women to participate in said conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States.''<ref>"LAS WACS"-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Seginda Guerra Mundial; by: Carmen Garcia Rosado; page 60; 1ra. Edicion publicada en Octubre de 2006; 2da Edicion revisada 2007; Regitro tro Propiedad Intectual ELA (Government of Puerto Rico) #06-13P-)1A-399</ref>


*''']''', Captain, U.S. Navy<br />''Kimmich was the highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy. She was assigned as the Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations ] and ].<ref name="womensmemorial.org"></ref> *''']''', Captain, U.S. Navy<br />''Kimmich was the highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy. She was assigned as the Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations ] and ].<ref name="womensmemorial.org"></ref>


*''']''', 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps<br />''Dumler was one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers. In 1944, she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan.''<ref name="womensmemorial.org"/> *''']''', 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps<br />''Dumler was one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers. In 1944, she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan.''<ref name="womensmemorial.org"/>

* Dr. ''']''', ]<br />''Piñero, who despite the fact that she was not an active member of the military, was the first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I. At first she was turned down, however after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. she was ordered her to report to ] in Santurce, Puerto Rico. On October 1918, She signed her contract with the Army.''


* '''Maria Rodriguez Denton''', Lieutenant, U.S. Navy<br />'' Rodriguez Denton was the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of the ]. It was Lt. Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to President ] that the war had ended.''<ref name="Women's Memorial"></ref> * '''Maria Rodriguez Denton''', Lieutenant, U.S. Navy<br />'' Rodriguez Denton was the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of the ]. It was Lt. Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to President ] that the war had ended.''<ref name="Women's Memorial"></ref>
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* '''Dr. ]'''<br />'' First Hispanic and first woman U.S. Surgeon General (1990–93).'' * '''Dr. ]'''<br />'' First Hispanic and first woman U.S. Surgeon General (1990–93).''

*''']''' NASA engineer<br />''Is the highest ranking Hispanic at NASA Glenn Research Center and a member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.''

*''']''' NASA engineer<br />''Hernández-Pellerano designs, builds and tests the electronics that will regulate the solar array power in order to charge the spacecraft battery and distribute power to the different loads or users inside various spacecraft at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.''


*''']''' Research engineer and scientist<br />''Reaves is responsible for the design of a viable full-scale solar sail and the development and testing of a scale model solar sail at NASA Langley Research Center.'' *''']''' Research engineer and scientist<br />''Reaves is responsible for the design of a viable full-scale solar sail and the development and testing of a scale model solar sail at NASA Langley Research Center.''

* '''Dr. ]''' PhD, Puerto Rican NASA scientist<br />'' Rodón-Naveira was the first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division within the National Exposure Research Laboratory.''


*''']''' Scientist, microbiologist<br /> ''Roman helped build the ].'' *''']''' Scientist, microbiologist<br /> ''Roman helped build the ].''

*''']'''<br>''Sierra Sastre was chosen to take part in a new NASA project that will help to determine why astronauts don’t eat enough, having noted that they get bored with spaceship food and end up with problems like weight loss and lethargy that put their health at risk. She will live for four months isolated in a planetary module to simulate what life will be like for astronauts at a future base on Mars at a base in Hawaii. Sierra Sastre is an aspiring astronaut.<ref name="HSN"></ref><ref name="FN"></ref>


'''Politicians''' '''Politicians'''

*''']'''<br />''First woman in Puerto Rico and in all of Latin America to be elected to a government legislative body.''<ref name="BIO"></ref>


*''']'''<br />'' First Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly, chair New York Hispanic Legislative Caucus.'' *''']'''<br />'' First Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly, chair New York Hispanic Legislative Caucus.''


*''']'''<br/>'' Colón Sánchez was an activist and politician who in 1988, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.<ref name="GPRC"></ref> *''']'''<br/>'' Colón Sánchez was an activist and politician who in 1988, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.<ref name="GPRC"></ref>

*''']'''<br />''First woman to be elected Mayor of a capital city in the ] (]).''


*''']'''<br />'' First Hispanic woman appointed as one of the five commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).'' *''']'''<br />'' First Hispanic woman appointed as one of the five commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).''
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*''']''', Episcopal Bishop<br />'' Rivera is the first Hispanic woman bishop and the 12th woman bishop in the Episcopal Church.''<ref></ref> *''']''', Episcopal Bishop<br />'' Rivera is the first Hispanic woman bishop and the 12th woman bishop in the Episcopal Church.''<ref></ref>

*''']''', "Mita"<br />''Founder of "Mita" religion''.


'''Sports''' '''Sports'''

* ''']'''<br />''known as "The Mother of Puerto Rican Women's Sports", Colberg paritcipated in various athletic competitions in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Panama where she won the Gold Medals in Discus and Javelin throw.''


*''']'''<br />''first black Puerto Rican woman in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team.'' *''']'''<br />''first black Puerto Rican woman in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team.''

*''']'''<br />'' inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame (2003).''


*''']'''<br />''tennis player, the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico to turn professional,<ref>according to Hispanic Magazine, 1988</ref> the first Puerto Rican woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal and the first to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2002/vol6n22/PRSportsBeat0622-en.html |title=Gigi Fernández: "We Have A Mixed Identity" |publisher=Puerto Rico Herald |accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref>'' *''']'''<br />''tennis player, the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico to turn professional,<ref>according to Hispanic Magazine, 1988</ref> the first Puerto Rican woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal and the first to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2002/vol6n22/PRSportsBeat0622-en.html |title=Gigi Fernández: "We Have A Mixed Identity" |publisher=Puerto Rico Herald |accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref>''


*''']'''<br />''softball, Olympic gold medalist, (Puerto Rican mother).'' *''']'''<br />''softball, Olympic gold medalist, (Puerto Rican mother).''

*''']'''<br />'' former Olympic swimmer, holds the island record for most medals won at CAC Games with a total of 17 and 10 gold.''<ref></ref>

*''']'''<br />'' track and field athlete.''


==Gallery== ==Gallery==

Revision as of 18:52, 25 September 2013

Ethnic group
History of women in Puerto Rico
Sila María Calderón
former Governor of Puerto Rico
María Meléndez
Mayor of Ponce
Carmen Yulín Cruz
Mayor of San Juan
Isolina Ferré Aguayo
Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee
Esther Sandoval
Actress
Olga Tañón
Singer
Jennifer Guevara
Miss Puerto Rico World 2007
File:Ivonne Orsini, TV personality and Miss World PR 2008.jpgIvonne Orsini
Actress
File:Rivera's photo.JPGZuleyka Rivera
Miss Universe 2006
Languages
Spanish and English
Religion
Protestant, Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Criollos, Mestizos, Mulattos, Taíno, African people, Europeans

Puerto Rican women are women who live in and are from Puerto Rico, or are of Puerto Rican descent, an island territory of the United States. Prior to 1898, when the island was ceded to the United States by Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War they were Spanish subjects and were already active participants in the labor movement and agricultural economy in the island. In 1917, the United States Congress approved the Jones–Shafroth Act which made the citizens of Puerto Rico into citizens of the United States with certain limitations.

During the period of industrialization of the 1950s, Puerto Rican women took jobs in the so-called "needle industry", working as seamstresses in garment factories. Many Puerto Rican families also migrated to the United States in the 1950s in what is known as the "Great Migration". Currently, Puerto Rican women have became active in the political and social scenes in the continental U.S. in addition to their own homeland, and have become involved in fields that were once limited to the male population, many gaining influential roles as leaders in their fields.

The Tania's

Before the arrival of the Spaniards to the island of "Borikén" (as Puerto Rico was first called) in 1493, the island was inhabited by the Taínos. The Taínos were the pre-Columbian indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and some of the Lesser Antilles – especially in Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique. The Taínos ("Taíno" means "good" "people"), unlike the Caribs', who practiced regular raids on other groups, were peaceful seafaring people and distant relatives of the Arawak people of South America.

The Taíno women, also known as Tania’s, cooked, tended to the needs of the family, tended the farm and harvested the crops. Yuca was the Taíno staple food, and from it flour and casava bread were made. The Taínos primarily used tubers as a source of food. Also harvested were guanábana, yautía, squash, mamey, papaya, pineapple, achiote, sweet potatoes, yams, and corn. Peanuts, lerenes, guava, soursop, pineapples, sea grapes, black-eyed peas, ajíes caballeros, and lima beans grew wild.

The Tania’s who were mothers carried their babies on their backs on a padded board that was secured to the baby's forehead. That is the reason that most Taínos developed flat foreheads. The women did not dedicate themselves solely to cooking and the art of motherhood, they were also talented as artists. They made pots, grills, and griddles from river clay by rolling the clay into rope and then layering it to form or shape. They also carved drawings made from stone or wood with a raised tail used as a backrest were carved by both men and women. The Spanish Conquistadores arrived in the island intermarried with the Taina’s.

Some Taina’s even became notable Cacica’s (Tribal chiefs). Such was the case of Yuisa (Luisa), a cacica in the region near Loíza, Puerto Rico (region which was named after her) who was baptized by the Spaniards. She married Pedro Mexias a Spaniard and died in 1515, during a Carib raid on her land.

Puerto Rican women in the U.S. military

Main article: Puerto Ricans in World War II Main article: Puerto Rican women in the military
Puerto Rican Army nurses, 296th Station Hospital, Camp Tortuguero, Vega Baja, PR.

When the United States entered World War II, Puerto Rican nurses volunteered for service but were not accepted into the Army or Navy Nurse Corps.

In 1944, the Army sent recruiters to the island to recruit no more than 200 women for the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Over 1,000 applications were received for the unit which was to be composed of only 200 women. The Puerto Rican WAC unit, Company 6, 2nd Battalion, 21st Regiment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, a segregated Hispanic unit, was assigned to the Port of Embarkation of New York City, after their basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. They were assigned to work in military offices which planned the shipment of troops around the world. Among them was PFC Carmen García Rosado, who in 2006, authored and published a book titled "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), the first book to document the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women who participated in said conflict.

That same year the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) decided to accept Puerto Rican nurses so that Army hospitals would not have to deal with the language barriers. Thirteen women submitted applications, were interviewed, underwent physical examinations, and were accepted into the ANC. Eight of these nurses were assigned to the Army Post at San Juan, where they were valued for their bilingual abilities. Five nurses were assigned to work at the hospital at Camp Tortuguero, Puerto Rico. Among them was Second Lieutenant Carmen Lozano Dumler, who became one of the first Puerto Rican female military officers.

Not all the women served as nurses: some women served in administrative duties in the mainland or near combat zones. Such was the case of Technician Fourth Grade Carmen Contreras-Bozak who belonged to the 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The 149th Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Post Headquarters Company was the first WAAC Company to go overseas, setting sail from New York Harbor for Europe on January 1943. The unit arrived in Northern Africa on January 27, 1943 and rendered overseas duties in Algiers within General Dwight D. Eisenhower's theater headquarters, T/4. Carmen Contreras-Bozak, a member of this unit, was the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions.

Another was Lieutenant Junior Grade Maria Rodriguez Denton, the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of the WAVES. The Navy assigned LTJG Denton as a library assistant at the Cable and Censorship Office in New York City. It was LTJG Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to President Harry S. Truman that the war had ended.

Some Puerto Rican women became notable in other fields outside of the military. Among them Sylvia Rexach - a composer of boleros, Marie Teresa Rios - an author, and Julita Ross - singer.

Sylvia Rexach, dropped-out of the University of Puerto Rico in 1942 and joined the United States Army as a member of the WACS where she served as an office clerk. She served until 1945, when she was honorably discharged. Marie Teresa Rios was a renowned Puerto Rican writer who also served in World War II. Rios, mother of Medal of Honor recipient, Capt. Humbert Roque Versace and author of The Fifteenth Pelican which was the basis for the popular 1960s television sitcom "The Flying Nun", drove Army trucks and buses. She also served as a pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. Rios Versace wrote and edited for various newspapers around the world, including places such as Guam, Germany, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, and publications such the Armed Forces Star & Stripes and Gannett. During World War II, Julita Ross entertained the troops with her voice in "USO shows" (United Service Organizations).

Notable women in Puerto Rico

Main article: List of Puerto Ricans

Prominent women in Puerto Rico include the following:

Actresses, comedians and directors

Authors, playwrights and poets

  • Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier, poet
    Benítez de Gautier's collaboration with the "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño" (Collection of Puerto Rican Poetry) gave her recognition as a great poet.
  • Julia de Burgos, poet
    Burgos is considered by many as the greatest Puerto Rican poet of all times.

Businesswomen and industrialists

  • Carmen Ana Culpeper
    Former SBA Regional Director, first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President.
  • Camalia Valdés
    Valdés is the President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery.

Civil rights and/or political activists

  • María de las Mercedes Barbudo Political activist
    Mercedes Barbudo is considered to be the first female from Puerto Rico "Independentista" meaning that she was the woman to become an avid advocate of the Puerto Rican Independence..
  • Mariana Bracetti a.k.a. "Brazo de Oro" (Golden Arm) Political activist
    Bracetti was the leader of the "Lares's Revolutionary Council" during the Grito de Lares. Bracetti knit the first flag of the future "Republic of Puerto Rico".
  • María Cadilla Women rights activist
    Women rights activist and one the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree.
  • Isabel González Civil Rights activist
    Young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship.
  • Lolita Lebrón Political activist
    Nationalist leader and activist. Lebrón was the leader of a group of nationalists, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives in 1954.
  • Ana María O'Neill Women Rights activist and educator
    In 1929, O'Neill became the first female professor in the field of Comerence in the University of Puerto Rico, a discipline which she taught until 1951. As a women's rights activist, she urged women to participate in every aspect of civic life and to defend their right to vote.
  • Ana Roque Women Rights activist
    Roque was an educator and suffragist. She was also one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico.
  • Olga Viscal Garriga Political activist
    member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. During the late 1940s she became a student leader at the University of Puerto Rico and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party's branch in Río Piedras.

Composers, musicians and singers

Educators

  • Edna Coll Educator and author
    Coll was President of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan. She was also the founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.
  • Lolita Tizol Educator
    Early 1900s Educator: at a time when most people in Ponce, as most of Puerto Rico, did not know how to read and write, and when teachers were paid only $50 per month, even in the large cities, Tizol took it upon herself to overcome all challenges to help others.
  • Nilita Vientós Gastón Educator
    Vientos Gaston was the first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico. She defended the use of the Spanish language in the courts of Puerto Rico, before the Supreme Court, and won

Historians

  • Delma S. Arrigoitia, historian, author
    Arrigoitia was the first person in the University of Puerto Rico to earn a Masters Degree in the field of history. In 2010, her book, "Puerto Rico Por Encima de Todo: Vida y Obra de Antonio R. Barceló, 1868–1938", was recognized among the best in the category of "research and criticism" and awarded a first place prize by the Ateneo Puertorriqueño.

Journalists

  • Carmen Jovet,
    Journalist, first Puerto Rican woman named news anchor in Puerto Rico.

Military

  • Carmen García Rosado, Private First Class, U.S. Women's Army Corps
    García Rosado was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the WAC's during World War II and the author of "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), which is the first book which documents the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women to participate in said conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States.
  • Dr. Dolores Piñero, U.S. Army Medical Corps
    Piñero, who despite the fact that she was not an active member of the military, was the first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I. At first she was turned down, however after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. she was ordered to report to Camp Las Casas in Santurce, Puerto Rico. On October 1918, she signed her contract with the Army.

Physicians, scientists and inventors

  • Olga D. González-Sanabria NASA engineer
    Is the highest ranking Hispanic at NASA Glenn Research Center and a member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
  • Amri Hernández-Pellerano NASA engineer
    Hernández-Pellerano designs, builds and tests the electronics that will regulate the solar array power in order to charge the spacecraft battery and distribute power to the different loads or users inside various spacecraft at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • Dr. Miriam Rodon-Naveira PhD, Puerto Rican NASA scientist
    Rodón-Naveira was the first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division within the National Exposure Research Laboratory.
  • Yajaira Sierra Sastre
    Sierra Sastre was chosen to take part in a new NASA project that will help to determine why astronauts don’t eat enough, having noted that they get bored with spaceship food and end up with problems like weight loss and lethargy that put their health at risk. She will live for four months isolated in a planetary module to simulate what life will be like for astronauts at a future base on Mars at a base in Hawaii. Sierra Sastre is an aspiring astronaut.

Politicians

  • María Luisa Arcelay
    First woman in Puerto Rico and in all of Latin America to be elected to a government legislative body.
  • Sila M. Calderón
    first female governor of Puerto Rico, elected in November 2000. She was the former mayor of San Juan.

Religion

Sports

  • Rebekah Colberg
    known as "The Mother of Puerto Rican Women's Sports", Colberg paritcipated in various athletic competitions in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games celebrated in Panama where she won the Gold Medals in Discus and Javelin throw.
  • Anita Lallande
    former Olympic swimmer, holds the island record for most medals won at CAC Games with a total of 17 and 10 gold.

Notable stateside Puerto Rican women

Main article: List of Puerto Ricans

Women from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent that have become prominent in the mainland United States include the following:

Actresses, comedians and directors

Authors, playwrights and poets

  • Pura Belpré, author
    First Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.
  • Nicholasa Mohr, writer
    Her works, among which is the novel Nilda, tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States. In 1973, she became the first Hispanic woman in the modern times to have her literary works published by the major commercial publishing houses, and she has developed the longest career as a creative writer for these publishing houses than any other Hispanic female writer.
  • Judith Ortiz Cofer, poet, writer and essayist.
    In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story "The Latin Deli". In 1996, Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children's literature.
  • Micol Ostow, author
    Ostow wrote of "Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane". Her novel, "Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa", was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.

Businesswomen and industrialists

  • Aída Álvarez
    First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub-cabinet level position in the White House (Small Business Administrator 1997–2000).
  • Nina Tassler
    President of CBS Entertainment. She is the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series.
  • Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto
    Vizcarrondo-De Soto is the first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.

Civil rights and/or political activists

  • Helen Rodriguez-Trias Physician and women's rights activist.
    Rodriguez-Trias was the first Latina president of the American Public Health Association, a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association, and the recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal. She is credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations in the United States, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Composers, musicians and singers

  • Myrta Silva or "La Gorda de Oro" and "Madame Chencha", Singer, composer

Educators

  • Ninfa Segarra
    President of the New York City Board of Education 2000–2002.

Journalists

Judges and law enforcement

  • Faith Evans, U.S. Marshal
    Hawaiian-Puerto Rican, first woman to be named U.S. Marshal.
  • Dora Irizarry, Federal District Judge
    First female Hispanic state judge in New York.
  • Irma Lozada, New York City Transit Police
    Lozada was the first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York City.
  • Vanessa Ruiz, Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
    Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest court for the District of Columbia.
  • Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice
    First Puerto Rican woman to serve as an (2d Cir.) U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge and to be nominated and confirmed as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice
  • Carmen Consuelo Vargas, Puerto Rican Federal District Judge
    First female Puerto Rican federal district judge and Chief Judge.

Military

  • Olga E. Custodio, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force
    Custodio made history when she became the first female Hispanic U.S. military pilot. She holds the distinction of being first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force military pilot training. After retiring from the military she became the first Latina to become a commercial airline captain.
  • Linda Garcia Cubero, Captain, U.S. Air Force
    In 1980, Garcia Cubero, who is of Mexican-American/Puerto Rican heritage, became the first Hispanic woman graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the first to graduate from an American Military Academy.
  • Haydee Javier Kimmich, Captain, U.S. Navy
    Kimmich was the highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy. She was assigned as the Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
  • Carmen Lozano Dumler, 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps
    Dumler was one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers. In 1944, she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan.
  • Maria Rodriguez Denton, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
    Rodriguez Denton was the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of the WAVES. It was Lt. Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to President Harry S. Truman that the war had ended.
  • Maritza Sáenz Ryan, Colonel, U.S. Army
    Sáenz Ryan, who is of Puerto Ricana and Spanish descent, is the head of the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy. She is the first woman and first Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage) West Point graduate to serve as an academic department head. She also has the distinction of also being the most senior ranking Hispanic Judge Advocate.

Physicians, scientists and inventors

  • Mercedes Reaves Research engineer and scientist
    Reaves is responsible for the design of a viable full-scale solar sail and the development and testing of a scale model solar sail at NASA Langley Research Center.

Politicians

  • Carmen E. Arroyo
    First Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly, chair New York Hispanic Legislative Caucus.
  • Maria Colón Sánchez
    Colón Sánchez was an activist and politician who in 1988, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.
  • Gloria Tristani
    First Hispanic woman appointed as one of the five commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
  • Nydia Velázquez
    First Puerto Rican congresswoman, Chair of House Small Business Committee.
  • Wilda Diaz
    First female mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey and first Puerto Rican woman elected mayor in that state.

Religion

  • Bavi Edna Rivera, Episcopal Bishop
    Rivera is the first Hispanic woman bishop and the 12th woman bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Sports

  • Maritza Correia
    first black Puerto Rican woman in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team.
  • Gigi Fernández
    tennis player, the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico to turn professional, the first Puerto Rican woman to ever win an Olympic gold medal and the first to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Gallery

  • A woman in a Puerto Rico garment factory (ca. 1950) A woman in a Puerto Rico garment factory (ca. 1950)

See also

References

  1. 2010 US Census
  2. ^ Introduction, Puerto Rican Labor Movement
  3. Rouse, p. 5., Retrieved September 19, 2007
  4. ^ "Taínos"; by: Ivonne Figueroa
  5. The Last Taino Queen, Retrieved September 19, 2007
  6. ^ Puerto Rican Woman in Defense of our country
  7. "LAS WACS"-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Seginda Guerra Mundial; by: Carmen Garcia Rosado; page 60; 1ra. Edicion publicada en Octubre de 2006; 2da Edicion revisada 2007; Regitro Propiedad Intectual ELA (Government of Puerto Rico) #06-13P-)1A-399; Library of Congress TXY 1-312-685.
  8. ^ Bellafaire, Judith. "Puerto Rican Servicewomen in Defense of the Nation". Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  9. Kennon, Katie. "Young woman's life defined by service in Women's Army Corps". US Latinos and Latinas & World War II. Archived from the original on 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  10. Music of Puerto Rico
  11. Marie Teresa Rios
  12. Popular Culture
  13. Marquita Rivera at IMDb. Retrieved 14 April 2008
  14. Bios
  15. JS Theatre
  16. Isabel Freire de Matos por Esther Rivera Torres
  17. Template:Es icon Ensayistas.org, Rosario Ferré. Retrieved 6 January 2007.
  18. Puerto Rico Past and Present: An Encyclopedia By Ronald Fernandez, Serafín Méndez Méndez, Gail Cueto
  19. Santiago's Page on pbs.org
  20. Camalia Valdez – Bio
  21. Mercedes – La primera Independentista Puertorriquena
  22. Journal of American Ethnic History
  23. Biografias
  24. ^ "Tras las Huellas de Nuestro Paso"; by: Ildelfonso López; Publisher: AEELA, 1998
  25. Statue Honoring Tizol
  26. Puerto Rico Daily Sun
  27. "LAS WACS"-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Seginda Guerra Mundial; by: Carmen Garcia Rosado; page 60; 1ra. Edicion publicada en Octubre de 2006; 2da Edicion revisada 2007; Regitro Propiedad Intectual ELA (Government of Puerto Rico) #06-13P-)1A-399
  28. Yajaira Sierra One Step Closer to Becoming First Puerto Rican Woman in Space
  29. Yajaira Sierra dreams of being 1st Puerto Rican woman in space
  30. Biografia
  31. Puerto Rico A Timeline, Almost a Woman, PBS, New York
  32. Puerto Rico Herald
  33. "Pura Belpré: The Children's Ambassador". In Vicki Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol, Latina Legacies: Identity, Biography, and Community New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. 148-157
  34. Dictionary of Literary Biography intro online
  35. Heath Anthology bio
  36. ^ "Hispanic Firsts", By; Nicolas Kanellos, publisher Visible Ink Press; ISBN 0-7876-0519-0; p.40
  37. Honoree - Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
  38. Princeton's Children's Book Festival
  39. highest-ranking Latina in network television
  40. El Diario/La Prensa
  41. Geisler, Lindsey (11 September 2006). "Mendez case paved way for Brown v. Board". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  42. "Sauceda, Isis (28 March 2007). "Cambio Historico (Historic Change)". People en Español (in Spanish): pages 111–112. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  43. Changing the Face of Medicine
  44. KENA to Launch in April
  45. Profile of Elizabeth Vargas, ABC News Journalist
  46. Recalling a Slain Officer, and the Equality of Peril
  47. Did You Know? Quick Facts on Latinos in the Military
  48. Our American Dream: Meet the First Latina US Military Pilot
  49. Rachel Heyhoe
  50. Garcia Cubero, Linda. "Punto Final!". Latina Style. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  51. ^ Women's Memorial
  52. Women's Military Memorial
  53. Ryan takes charge of Law Department
  54. Maritza Sáenz Ryan - Bio.
  55. Maria Sanchez: Godmother of the Puerto Rican Community
  56. Diocese of Olympia’
  57. according to Hispanic Magazine, 1988
  58. "Gigi Fernández: "We Have A Mixed Identity"". Puerto Rico Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  59. Women making brassieres at the Jem Manufacturing Corp. in Puerto Rico, March 1950. Retrieved 23 September 2013.

Further reading

External links

Women in North America
Sovereign states
Dependencies and
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