If there’s one thing we can boast about in Málaga, apart from the Andalusian singers, the beaches and our traditional festivals It is the birthplace of countless illustrious figures from Málaga who are recognised throughout the world, particularly in modern times. From actors and musicians to political thinkers and philosophers. However, in this post we are not going to talk about the illustrious men born in this Andalusian province, but rather about the women of Málaga – the great forgotten figures of history who, in most cases, have been silenced and relegated to the most hidden corners of our past.
Although they have remained hidden in our history, the illustrious women of Málaga have contributed so much to the city’s progress that it is impossible to ignore them; even though 200 years have passed, we can see the precious legacy these women have left us on every corner of the province. The fact is, the city would not be what it is today without them.
Today from Lolita We want to give a voice to those Andalusian women who have fought so hard so that we can enjoy the city today just as we know it.
Victoria Kent
If you’re from Málaga or know the city a little, you’ll be familiar with Victoria Kent railway station. This station, along with its plaques, streets and so on, owes its name to a woman who, during the Second Republic, managed to carve out a place for herself in a male-dominated society and went on to become the first woman in the world to practise as a lawyer in a military court.
Despite being a champion of women’s rights, she opposed women’s suffrage. The reason for this was that she believed women were not yet ready to vote, as at that time they were heavily influenced by the Church and lacked a proper education. Victoria Kent believed that before voting, a person should be well-educated, regardless of whether they were a man or a woman.
Amalia Heredia and Livermore
Amalia was the first Marchioness of the Loring family in the mid-17th century. Thanks to this illustrious figure, we can now stroll through the beautiful La Concepción Botanical Gardens. It was she who took the lead in developing this unique site. Many books describe Amalia as one of the first women to champion women’s rights in her day; her children were even educated on an equal footing, which was quite unusual at the time.
María Zambrano
Just like Victoria Kent, María Zambrano also has a railway station named after her – and not only that, but the AVE station is also named after her. María Zambrano is one of the world’s leading figures in philosophy; she is certainly not a woman who has been overlooked by history – in fact, it is rare to find anyone from Málaga who does not know who she is. However, it is true that her achievements were not recognised until the end of the 20th century. She has won prestigious and important literary awards such as the Prince of Asturias Award and the Cervantes Prize.
Concepción Lazárraga
Concepción Lazárraga was the first woman to practise as a pharmacist in the city of Málaga, specifically on Calle Santa Lucía. Concepción was always a young woman with a keen interest in her studies; she began her education at the German School and went on to complete a degree in pharmacy at the University of Granada. She later moved to Madrid to continue her studies at the Central University.
He continued to travel to various countries and continents to complete his training, which enabled him to acquire a great command of languages – something that was quite unusual at the time, as few people spoke any language other than Spanish. As a result, all foreigners suffering from ailments would go to his pharmacy to be treated.