Today, 8 March, is International Women’s Day, an inescapable figure in history who has always fought for her rights regardless of the challenges she faces.
In the Azores, women have always played a key role in the life of the population, as well as in its emigration. Throughout the times and the destinies of Azorean emigration, women have accompanied, whether near or far, the whole process of change and search that human migration implies. Often, they were the ones who pushed to leave the islands, for the sake of their children and family.
The fact of having the traditional role of accompanying the children’s education led the emigrant woman to reach remarkable levels of acculturation, making her an example of life. When emigrating, Azorean women faced the isolation of daily life as housewives and also, in the case of non-Lusophone destinations, a new language and culture which were obstacles, but which were not reasons to give up. Many even managed to continue their studies and careers.
As time went by, many emigrated housewives, used to daily housework, sought paid work in cleaning and other services, in factories and in commerce. For these women, emigration offered a greater opportunity and the possibility of achieving a new life.
The Azorean emigrant woman assumed and still assumes an important position in the maintenance and transmission of the fundamental aspects of Azorean culture, from typical recipes and culinary practices, to religious festivities and popular traditions, where she has always participated actively, through the various festivals and typical Azorean cultural manifestations.
There was much more to say about the Azorean Woman who Emigrated, a courageous woman who was not afraid to face the challenges imposed by the choice of a new life, to which she was always dedicated and hard-working, putting her family and children first.
These informative excerpts were taken from the study on Women Emigrants from the Azores by Rosa Neves Simas. Rosa Simas, is an Azorean woman, born in Pico Island, who gave much to the Azorean community of the Diaspora and Azores as a teacher and researcher. She emigrated as a child with her parents to California, where she grew up, studied and taught. She holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of California, since 1990. During her professional life she has organised and participated in events and projects, as well as published works on Comparative Studies and thematic areas such as women, migration, education, the environment and translation. In 2003 and 2008, Rosa Simas published the 6-volume bilingual collection “A Mulher nos Açores e nas Comunidades” (Women in the Azores and Communities), following the Colloquium “A Mulher nos Açores e nas Comunidades” (Women in the Azores and Communities), which she mentored and which took place in 2001 at the University of the Azores.
In 2021, the AEAzores to commemorate Women’s Day on March 8, but also to celebrate the 20 years of the holding of that colloquium and to pay homage to Rosa Simas, held a Meeting with some women living in the Azores and in the communities to see and hear their experiences.
To all the women from the Azores of a Thousand Islands and around the world, a Happy Women’s Day!
Last modified: 9 de March, 2022
