Essay | "Evita" Peron

Argentina's "dama de la esperanza," Eva Duarte de Peron, remains one of Latin America's most influential, and unforgettable women. From the moment Juan Domingo Peron became president of Argentina, Eva Peron was submerged in politics. "Evita" was Juan Domingo Peron's greatest ally. During her time as first lady of Argentina, she accomplished more for the "descamisados" than any other woman had ever managed to do. She served as his liaison to the working class as well as an activist for the feminist suffrage. Despite the "machista" Argentinean traditions, Eva became a powerful leader to the Argentinean people, breaking away form the conventional role of women, and reinventing herself, from mistress to president's wife.

Eva Duarte de Peron used her new found status to ensure that her husband remained in power as president of Argentina. She formed the Eva Peron Foundation, "a charitable institution that distributed large sums of money...
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