Feminism in Maracaibo
Feminism in Maracaibo originated at the close of the Pan-Septentrion War in 1948, at the outset of the Allied Nations. Ideas about gender equality and feminist theory were advanced by the experiences of female veterans of the war, who became public advocates for equality in the years that followed. Their efforts culminated in amendments to the national constitution in 1953, and the Almodovar Act, passed in 1970, which solidified women's rights nationwide.
History
Women on the Homefront
On X XXXX, 1943, the Democratic Republic of Maracaibo experienced a coup when the Chancellor Enrique Siguenza was ousted by the Grand Admiral of the Navy, XXXX Villeda and the military in response to public outcry against the Neutrality Deal with Dayashina. What followed was one of the bloodiest theaters of the Pan-Septentrion War.
When troops were called to mobilize after renegotiation broke down, it was projected initially to be a short war before the Dayashinese decided to sit back down at the negotiation table. Women were largely left to the homestead to mind the household and children, as was common of Casaterranized cultures of the era. On 13 April, 1943, Villeda enacted the Local Defense Initiative, which created town militias endorsed by the regular army in every settlement with more than ten thousand citizens. These would contain those considered unfit to serve in regular service, and some recruiters allowed particularly patriotic women to join once atrocities on the front lines, committed by the invading Imperial forces, were being talked about all over the country. These women were unable to hold rank equal to men, but drilled with them as an integrated combat unit.
Partisan Women
In July of 1943, the Trade Union Council of Maracaibo (CSM) voted to supplement the government troops by creating combat units of its own out of the various union chapters across the country. Unlike the military, the CSM actively encouraged women to join, and to organize "Housewife Brigades" of their own. Due in no small part to the immense door to door propaganda campaign in early 1944, many thousands of women joined under the black and red colors. Half of these women took up jobs in the heavy industry of the country to keep production of small arms and ammunition running efficiently. The other half joined combat units, which served on almost every battleground from Sloane to Maracaibo City.
Postwar Reconstruction
By the time the war with Dayashina ended in early 1947, there were hundreds of thousands of women of all ages in the Local Defense and Partisan forces. In 1948, the new Constitution for the Allied Nations of Maracaibo was signed by Castizo and tribal leaders, ushering in a new era for the country. The Reconstruction Era was presided over by the new Public Works Commission, which was founded as a government agency to provide jobs to every unemployed male to rebuild the country. Alongside this, the CSM pledged an oath to the government to use their called up militia and chapters of unions to assist in the rebuilding process in exchange for food, water and minimal pay. In 1950, President Irepani issued an order disbanding the vast majority of Local Defense Militias, reorganizing them into the modern Home Guard regiments. These were again restricted to men only. It was expected by much of the upper class that women would return to their prewar role in society as a homemaker.
In 1953, Irepani came to an agreement with the CSM to disband what remained of their mobilization program. There were now thousands of single or widowed women out of work who rallied around their status as war veterans to gain a following.
The Almodovar Angels
Six years prior, the woman that would come to be known as one of the great Heroines of Maracaibo, Maria Almodovar, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1951, after being influenced by Local Defense Captain XXXXX Barritza, President Irepani created the Almodovar Award for Gallantry in Action. Her actions during the war being publicized led to a large feminist movement being formed out of war veterans. In 1953, they demonstrated in front of the National Assembly to protest what they believed was their right to equality being revoked, having purchased it with their blood. To prevent another violent incursion into the legislature, the National Assembly amended the Constitution to guarantee the rights of women, which were elevated to an equal status among men. These protesters came to be known later as Almodovar's Angels. A political party by the same name won seats in provincial assemblies between 1966 and 1972. This party, combined with the Casaterranization policy adopted by the Progressive-dominated government, was able to convince the President Ramon Rodriguez to sign Executive Order #645, the Almodovar Act, which guarunteed women's rights to serve in the military, and paved the way for other social reforms.