María Dolores Bedoya

María Dolores Bedoya de Molina (September 20, 1783 – July 9, 1853) was a Guatemalan activist. She is remembered for her role in the movement for Central America's independence from Spain in the early 19th century.

María Dolores Bedoya
A monument to María Dolores Bedoya in Guatemala
Born(1783-09-20)September 20, 1783
Escuintla,
Captaincy General of Guatemala
DiedJuly 9, 1853(1853-07-09) (aged 69)
Guatemala City,
Republic of Guatemala
OccupationActivist
Spouse(s)Pedro Molina Mazariegos
Children2

Biography

Bedoya was born in Guatemala in 1783.[1][2] In 1804, she married physician (and later politician and independence leader) Pedro Molina.[1][3] The couple moved to Granada, Nicaragua, where Molina served as a battalion doctor until 1911; they returned to Guatemala in 1814.[3]

Bedoya is remembered for her role in Central America's quest for independence from the Spanish Empire. She is credited with mobilizing women to participate in the independence movement.[4] She is said to have travelled the streets of Guatemala City on the eve of September 15, accompanied by Basilio Porras, to garner support for independence.[5][6]

On September 15, 1821, while nobility gathered to debate the issue of independence, Bedoya led a celebration among a crowd of advocates outside the palace.[3] With music, fireworks, and a lively crowd, Bedoya's celebration is said to have spurred on the decision to sign for independence, as those inside the palace heard their noises and feared being attacked by the group.[7][8]

Bedoya's brother Mariano was assassinated in 1821; the Molina-Bedoya family left Guatemala City for Verapaz.[3][2] Her husband later became Head of State of Guatemala, from 1823 to 1931.[2]

The couple lived their remaining years in political exile in Antigua, Guatemala.[2] Bedoya died in 1853 after suffering from a long-term illness.[1]

Legacy

Bedoya's contributions to the independence movement were not recorded in texts, due to women's station at the time.[1] Today, she is recognized as a Guatemalan national hero.[5][9] As a tribute, in part, to her role in garnering support for independence, and to commemorate Independence Day, people in Guatemala parade through the streets on September 14 of each year.[5]

One of her dresses is displayed in the Guatemalan National History Museum.[1] In 1983, on the 200th anniversary of her birth, a statue of Bedoya was erected outside of a school named in her honour in Guatemala City.[9] On September 15, 2018, the biographical Guatemalan film, Dolores Bedoya: Una Mujer de Coraje, premiered in theatres across the country.[10]

References
  1. Gordillo, Ivonne. "El vestido de Dolores Bedoya, la única mujer que participó en la Independencia". Publinews (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. AGN. "María Dolores, la única mujer que participó en la independencia de Guatemala | Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  3. "Bedoya de Molina, Dolores (1783–1853) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  4. Berger, Susan A. (2003). "Guatemaltecas: The politics of gender and democratization". In Eckstein, Susan; Wickham-Crowley, Timothy P. (eds.). Struggles for social rights in Latin America. New York: Routledge. p. 195. ISBN 0-415-93527-X. OCLC 49553486.
  5. Lopez, Esvin. "Confunden el rostro de Dolores Bedoya de Molina en caminata cívica". Publinews (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  6. "El día que Guatemala se convirtió en una república". PERSPECTIVA (in Spanish). 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  7. de Rivera, Tirza (1979). "El ardid femenino contribuyó a la independencia". Estudios. 2: 105.
  8. Hamlin-Zuniga, Maria; Víquez, Ana Quirós (2016). "The role of women in Nicaraguan history and their relationship to the Nicaraguan state". Social Medicine. 9: 132–146.
  9. "Dolores Bedoya de Molina Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  10. "Trailer Oficial de la película "Dolores Bedoya, Una Mujer de Coraje"". Radio TGW (in Spanish). 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
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