Ana Cristina O Lopes

The history of feminism in Portugal showcases a long-standing activism for gender equality, with notable figures emerging throughout different centuries. Early advocacy can be traced back to the 16th century with João de Barros' "Espelho de Casados" (1540), which challenged traditional gender roles in marriage, and Ruy Gonçalves' "Dos Priuilégios e Praerrogativas Q ho Genero Feminino Te por Dereito Comú & Ordenaçoens do Reyno, mais Que ho Genero Masculino" (1557), considered the first Portuguese feminist book for its defense of women's legal rights. The 18th century saw further contributions, including Paula da Graça's satirical pamphlet "Bondade das mulheres vindicada e malícia dos homens manifesta" (1715), which questioned societal roles, and works by Luís António Verney, Félix José da Costa, and Gertrudes Margarida de Jesus, advocating for women's education and challenging negative portrayals. Teresa Margarida da Silva e Orta, writing as Dorothea Engrassia Tavareda Dalmira, published the first Portuguese novel by a woman in 1752, "Máximas de virtude, e formosura," which critiqued women's social and legal standing. The 19th century witnessed the emergence of feminist periodicals like "Gazeta das Damas" (1822) and "A Voz Feminina" (1868), alongside political proposals for women's suffrage and the establishment of the first female labor associations. The early 20th century saw the founding of the Portuguese Group for Feminist Studies in 1907 and the subsequent creation of the Republican League of Portuguese Women in 1908, which actively campaigned for various rights and against social ills.