Established, Yet Without Constitutions: The Absence of Women in the Constitutional Texts of Hispano-American

Abstract

Women had an undisputed role in the independence of Hispano-American. However, their presence is not manifested in the early accounts of this process. It is only in the late 20th century that narratives emerge attributing a fundamental role to some women. These are portrayed as heroines, depicted with masculine virtues such as sacrifice and courage, or as the companions of the leaders, who contributed significantly to the cause but are often portrayed solely as devoted spouses. Nowadays, various works seek to vindicate the role and presence of women in the emancipatory process and the construction of the new republics, from a perspective that surpasses these female archetypes.

The objective of this work is to analyze the presence of women in Hispano-American constitutions, considering their absence as citizens. So, do women appear in the Constitutions? How are they mentioned? Are they subjects of rights? What roles do they occupy? The study will be carried out through the comparative analysis of Hispanoamerican constitutions from the 19th century and the early 20th century.