On this day in 2006, Michelle Bachelet was inaugurated as the first female president of Chile. Below are five fun facts about Michelle as well as some resources for you to do your own research.
1. As well as being the first female president of Chile, she was also the first popularly-elected, South American, female president whose political career was separate from her husband. 2. After her father was arrested in 1972 for opposing the coup that brought Augusto Pinochet to power, eventually dying in prison after being tortured, Bachelet was also arrested. She was a medical student at the time. She was tortured in prison, and then was released into exile in Australia, eventually returning to Chile in 1979. 3. Before returning to Chile, she was involved in socialist politics in East Germany, while studying at Humboldt University of Berlin. 3. Upon finishing her medical degree in Chile, she joined a medical clinic that focused on treating victims of torture. 4. During her presidential campaign, her main focuses were promoting the rights of women, helping the country's poor, and recognizing constitutionally the rights of the indigenous Mapuche people. 5. After leaving office, Bachelet became the head of the newly established United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Resources for your own Research: 1. "Michelle Bachelet." - for a full biography 2. "Biography of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet." - for more info Citations: 1. "Michelle Bachelet." Biography. Accessed March 11, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Bachelet Comments are closed.
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the authorHello there! I'm Gemma, and I love women's history! archive
May 2021
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