Evita Peron was a powerful woman who had a great impact on her society. She overcame obstacles such as race, sexism and socio-economic stereotyping to achieve great accomplishments in her short lifetime. Her public was very passionate about her. Some in love, appreciation and admiration, some in doubt, anger, and resentment.
Maria Eva Duarte was born on May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos, which was a providence of Buenos Aires. She was born to Juan Duarte, who was from a very influential family, and Juana Ibaguren, who was considered to be from a lower socioeconomic class. The family led a prosperous life until 1919 when their economic situation began to decline. The older children were able to enjoy the prosperous life, but the younger children were only aware of a more impoverished childhood. Things became even more difficult after the tragic death of Juan Duarte on January 8, 1926. www.evitaperon.org
Eva was very outgoing in school and loved to recite poetry and act. By the time she was fifteen, Eva was performing in movies and on radio. As Eva grew older, she knew that she needed to make a life and career decision. Should she dare to venture out from under the wings of her mother and pursue an acting career, or stay in Junin and get married or take a job unfulfilling job like that of her sisters. Eva made her decision. She left Junin against the pleas of her mother and moved to Buenos Aires to pursue her career. Eva worked hard and performed in many plays, movies, and radio shows. Finally, she earned a part in the play "La Senora de Perez". This part opened many doors for her and enabled her to land more parts in plays and movies. Finally, after ten years of hard work, she reached the peak of her acting career and earned the right to be called a "star". During this time, she began dating the owner of Sintonia Magazine. Through this relationship, she met Colonel Juan Domingo Peron, the man who would eventually become her husband. www.auburn.edu/~jfdrake/teachers/gould/evita.html
On October 22, 1944, in a civil ceremony, Eva Duarte married Juan Domingo Peron, then President of Argentina. This was a marriage of love, but it was also responsible for hoisting Eva, now Evita, into a position of power and control. www.johnsrealmonline.com/misc/evita.html
It was during this time that Evita was able to for the Maria Eva Duarte de Peron Foundation. This Foundation, under Evita's hands-on leadership established rights for senior citizens, constructed thousands of schools for children, including nursery schools and daycare centers, orphan shelters, homes for single women and made sure that medicine was available in the workplace.
Evita Peron was offered to run for Vice-President at the side of her husband in 1951, but declined due to illness (which she never relayed to the public). She died of ovarian cancer on July 26, 1952 at the age of 34.
How could a woman who accomplished so much in such a short time, be hated by anyone? Were the people that hated her from a different socioeconomic class? Perhaps they were not receiving any direct benefit from her deeds. Were they of the "white class" and did not accept her because of her dark skin? I guess we would actually have to have lived in this society to see both side. I can see both sides, but I lean more towards the side of those who appreciated her. I don't feel that anyone who could work so hard to overcome an impoverished childhood and become a humanitarian could be a bad person. Perhaps she was arrogant because of her social standing, but I feel that this can be overlooked to a small degree considering that she did spend her adult life helping others.
Evita Peron was remarkable for the time. Few women were as dedicated and daring as she was. At that time, women were to stand by their spouse and basically, be seen but not heard. This was never the case for the bold Evita. She had the confidence (probably gained through her hardships and struggles to the top) and irrepressible determination to succeed and that she did. Not only did she make a career for herself but she help hundreds of thousands in the process. How many people have left their mark on a society at the age of 34?
The following is a fictitious letter to Eva from her sister Elisa.
Dearest Eva,
I am writing you today to wish you a Happy Birthday and to let you know how much I am thinking of you.
Blanca and I are so proud of all that you have become and all that you have accomplished in the time since you moved from Junin. Mother speaks of you often and she too is very proud. She is always telling the other women in town of your accomplishments.
Many times I have been sewing in the factory, and daydreaming of what your glamorous life must be like. Blanca and I get together with mother every time a picture show or radio show comes on with you in it.
Your more recent accomplishments make us more proud than ever. You are a very bold woman. I know no other woman who would be audacious enough to do the many things that you have. You have forced and fought your way from hardship into a marvelous acting career and then into the company of those whose power and political influences helped you to better the lives of the less fortunate.
You have helped the elderly and the needy children so selflessly. It is a shame that there are some people who believe that you would do these generous deeds for selfish reasons of gaining power and popularity. Dearest sister, please know that here in Junin, you are thought of with much compassion and appreciation.
I realize that you have a hard decision ahead of you. If you decide to stand beside your husband in his presidency it will truly have an impact on the public. I don't know how they will react. After all, no woman has ever been brazen enough to hold such a position.
Should you decide not to accept the vice-presidency, you will be able to continue to do the great work with those in the lower socio-economic class. Please decide carefully Eva, although your family will support your every decision.
I must close now sister. I wish you the most joyous of birthdays and again express how proud I am our your accomplishments. You have grown to be a wonderful woman and a great humanitarian.
Fondly,
Elisa
