First woman to vote in Portugal

Carolina Beatriz Ângelo was a representative of Portuguese feminism, born in Guarda on April 16th, 1878.

Carolina was a physician and practised with a strong feminist sense. She was the first female surgeon in the country and the first to exercise her right to vote in 1911.

This feat was achieved, as she became a widow and was now the head of the family. At the time this would give anyone that could write and read, access to the right of vote. The law did not mention that women were not allowed, therefore, Carolina demanded her right to vote. Having seen this right, firstly denied for being a woman, and against the wishes of most, she went to court, and won her right!

Carolina voted on May 28th 1911 and became news not only in Portugal, but also all around Europe!

After having a woman voting on these first elections, the Portuguese government made sure that this would not happen again, and modified the Electoral Code Law, declaring that only male, above 21 years of age, who could read and write and were head of household could vote.

While women had to wait until 1931 to be allowed to vote, and with many restrictions, as they had secondary or higher qualifications.

It was not until 1974, after the Revolution of April 25th, the end of dictatorship, that any prohibition on voting based on gender was completely eliminated.

Unfortunately Carolina was not a witness to all these events, as she passed in the same year that managed to vote, 1911, at the age of 33, but her legacy is fundamental to today's progress, she is recognised as the most important Portuguese suffragette of the 20th century.

Her name travels across local and international news thanks to tributes from feminist movements within Portugal and abroad.

In name of all women of Porto Walkers, here is our homage to such an important woman.