Hispanic Heritage Month: Felisa Rincón de Gautier

1897-1994

Felisa Rincón de Gautier was a women's rights activist.

She was born in Puerto Rico and was the oldest of nine kids.  was only 11 years old when her mother passed away.

After graduating from high school she studied pharmacy and became a pharmacist. Her father influenced her to get into politics, but deep inside she believed in a women's right to vote. 

Rincón de Gautier was active in the suffragist movement which motivated women to register. When women were allowed to finally vote, Felisa was the fifth women to official register to vote.  She joined the Liberal Party of Puerto Rico in 1932.   The party supported Puerto Rico's independence.  Felisa represented the party's representative. In 1938, she organized the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico.

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