Berta Lutz

Berta Maria Júlia Lutz (b. August 2, 1894, São Paulo; d. September 16, 1976, Rio de Janeiro) was a zoologist and scientist, and also a leading figure of feminism in Brazil.

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She was born in São Paulo. Her father was a famous physician and epidemiologist of Swiss origin, Adolfo Lutz (1855-1940), and her mother an English nurse, Amy Fowler. Berta Lutz studied natural sciences, biology and zoology at the University of Paris (Sorbonne). Returning to Brazil, she dedicated herself to the study of amphibians. The Lutz's Rapids Frog (Paratelmatobius lutzii, Lutz and Carvalho, 1958), was described by her. In 1919 she was hired by the Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, a fact which achieved great repercussion in the country, because the access to public jobs was barred to women at that time. Later she became a naturalist at the Section of Botany at the same institution.

In 1918, Berta returned to Brazil and spoke out for a feminist movement to begin. After seeing the advancements made by European and United States women towards the feminist movements, she could see that Brazilian women could also help out with the movement by lending whatever aid they could to the organization. In 1922, Berta attended the Pan American Conference of Women and was advised by Paulina Luisi and Carrie Chapman Catt. Following the Conference, Berta drew up the constitution for a group named the Brazilian Federation of Feminine Progress.

In 1932, the women of Brazil earned the right to vote due to Lutz and her organization.

As a politician, Berta Lutz was elected a deputy federal representative in 1934, after failing two successive ballots. Her main political platform was changing worker's legislation in relation to women's right to work, child labor, gender equality in wages and rights, the lawful right to maternity leave. She lost her mandate when Getúlio Vargas closed down both legislative chambers in 1937.

See also

• Women's suffrage
• Feminism