Berta Lutz
Encyclopedia
Berta Maria Júlia Lutz was a zoologist, and scientist
who became a leading figure of the feminist movement
in Brazil
.
She was born in São Paulo. Her father, Adolfo Lutz
(1855–1940), was a famous physician and epidemiologist of Swiss origin, and her mother, Amy Fowler, was a British nurse. Berta Lutz studied natural sciences, biology
and zoology
at the University of Paris - Sorbonne
. After returning to Brazil, she dedicated herself to the study of amphibians, especially poison dart frog
s and frogs of the family Hylidae. 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 offices was barred to women at that time. She later 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 American
women towards the feminist movement
s, she could see that Brazil
ian 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 for Advanced of Women.
In 1934, 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.
Lutz was one of four women who signed the United Nations Charter at San Francisco on 25 Oct. 1945 ≤UN Charter; UN Chronicle 2002≥. She was also Brazil's representative to sign the important treaty on Diplomatic Asylum 1954. ≤UN Treaty Series≥
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
who became a leading figure of the feminist movement
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
She was born in São Paulo. Her father, Adolfo Lutz
Adolfo Lutz
Adolfo Lutz was a Brazilian physician, 1855-1940, father of tropical medicine and medical zoology in Brazil, and a pioneer epidemiologist and researcher in infectious diseases....
(1855–1940), was a famous physician and epidemiologist of Swiss origin, and her mother, Amy Fowler, was a British nurse. Berta Lutz studied natural sciences, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the University of Paris - Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. After returning to Brazil, she dedicated herself to the study of amphibians, especially poison dart frog
Poison dart frog
Poison dart frog is the common name of a group of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae which are native to Central and South America. These species are diurnal and often have brightly-colored bodies...
s and frogs of the family Hylidae. 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 offices was barred to women at that time. She later 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 American
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
women towards the feminist movement
Feminist movement
The feminist movement refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence...
s, she could see that Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian 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
Paulina Luisi
Paulina Luisi was a leader of the feminist movement in the country of Uruguay. In 1909, she was the first woman in the country to obtain a medical degree and was highly respected. She represented Uruguay in international women’s conferences and traveled throughout Europe. She voiced her opinion on...
and Carrie Chapman Catt
Carrie Chapman Catt
Carrie Chapman Catt was a women's suffrage leader who campaigned for the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which gave U.S. women the right to vote in 1920...
. Following the conference, Berta drew up the constitution for a group named the Brazilian Federation for Advanced of Women.
In 1934, the women of Brazil earned the right to vote due to Lutz and her organization.
As a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, 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
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
, gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
in wages and rights, the lawful right to maternity leave. She lost her mandate when Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Vargas
Getúlio Dornelles Vargas served as President of Brazil, first as dictator, from 1930 to 1945, and in a democratically elected term from 1951 until his suicide in 1954. Vargas led Brazil for 18 years, the most for any President, and second in Brazilian history to Emperor Pedro II...
closed down both legislative chambers in 1937.
Lutz was one of four women who signed the United Nations Charter at San Francisco on 25 Oct. 1945 ≤UN Charter; UN Chronicle 2002≥. She was also Brazil's representative to sign the important treaty on Diplomatic Asylum 1954. ≤UN Treaty Series≥
External links
- Bertha Lutz: Photographs from LIFE Magazine, three black-and-white photos, captioned in English
- Berta Lutz: Biografia. Getúlio Vargas Foundation CPDOC (In Portuguese)
- Berta Lutz: Biografia. Mundo Físico (In Portuguese)