A (tragically short) life of firsts: Carolina Beatriz Ângelo broke through societal barriers to become one of the first female doctors in the country and the first woman to practise surgery. But, perhaps most notably, Sra Ângelo was the first woman to cast a vote in Portugal and one of the first in all of Europe.
The second systematic census of the population of Portugal, covering both the mainland and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, was carried out over 146 years ago, on 1 January 1878, under the reign of Dom Luís I, King of Portugal and the Algarve. According to the reported data, they registered 4,550,699 inhabitants – fewer than half of today’s current population.
Three months later, on 16 April, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo was born in São Vicente, Guarda, in Central Portugal. Beatriz, as family members and friends called her, grew up in a liberal family environment. Her father and maternal grandfather supported the Progressive Party and were involved in the region’s journalistic and publishing activities, allowing and supporting her to study and complete her medical-surgical education in Lisbon, a field dominated by men.
Despite being the only woman in her class, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo’s innovative spirit and dedication were well received by her classmates, and she maintained a close friendship with the future young surgeons until the end of her short life, defying all the limitations placed on women of her time. Upon graduation, she became a pioneer in gynaecology and obstetrics, providing much-needed medical care to women who had previously had limited access to qualified female doctors.
Beyond medicine, Dr Ângelo was a vocal advocate for women’s rights. A committed suffragist and republican, she believed in equal political participation for all citizens. The term ‘suffragette’ often suggests images of female activists in the early 20th-century United Kingdom. Unlike the UK’s more confrontational tactics, Portuguese feminists employed a measured approach. They argued for suffrage based on principles of equality and citizenship, and feminist voices of doctors like Carolina Beatriz Ângelo and Adelaide Cabete challenged traditional gender roles. These early feminists advocated for suffrage as a means for women to have a say in issues that directly affected them, such as public health and education. However, the fight for women’s suffrage was a European phenomenon, if not global, and Portugal’s journey towards equal voting rights deserves recognition. The Portuguese path to suffrage involved a network of influential women, intellectuals and reformers who chipped away at the patriarchal status quo.
In 1911, during the first elections of the newly established (in 1910) Portuguese First Republic, using a legal loophole in the electoral law that didn’t explicitly exclude women, Carolina Beatriz Ângelo registered to vote. Despite some attempts to deny her suffrage, she ultimately cast her ballot, becoming a symbol of defiance and a powerful voice for female enfranchisement.
The passage of a new civil code in 1916 marked a turning point. In 1918, Portugal became one of the first European countries to grant women suffrage, albeit with limitations. Only literate women over 21 who met specific education and property qualifications could vote. While it didn’t grant universal suffrage, it did grant women some legal rights, such as control over their own earnings. Though women’s suffrage wouldn’t be officially recognised in Portugal until 1931, Beatriz Ângelo’s fight paved the way for future generations.
Our protagonist’s life tragically ended in October 1911, when she was only 33, after a fatal sudden cardiac arrest, but her distinct legacy continues to inspire us today. Beatriz is remembered for her medical contributions, unwavering dedication to social justice, and her fight for a more equitable world for everyone. Her story and her groundbreaking achievements in awareness about women’s rights remind us of the power of individual courage in dismantling societal barriers and the importance of the struggle for fundamental reforms.