The book Las Mujeres españolas, americanas y lusitanas pintadas por sí mismas (1881): Transnational Female Networks of Educational Vindication in the Last Third of the 19th Century

Abstract

Las Mujeres españolas, americanas y lusitanas pintadas por sí mismas (1881), coordinated by Faustina Sáez de Melgar, was more than just a book on the customs of women in the late 19th century. This work became a meeting point for female intellectuals of the time, a space where they not only wrote in the first person about social and moral customs for women, but also reflected on the role of female education and the need for its improvement. Additionally, they presented work and professionalism as essential tools in cases of economic vulnerability. These discourses revealed cracks in the dominant model of female identity in society at the time, marked by the ideal of the «angel of the house». This work has a clear transnational character, bringing together the voices of both Spanish and Latin American women on common issues such as education, work, and economic independence. The book transcended national borders, creating a network of female collaboration that united intellectuals from different regions. By sharing experiences and reflecting on the improvement of women’s education and professionalization, these authors challenged traditional models of female identity and, above all, created support networks in a system that still did not consider them as equals.