Petronila Infantes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 29 July 1911 |
| Died | 10 May 1991 (aged 79) |
| Other names | Dona Peta |
| Citizenship | Bolivia |
| Occupation(s) | Cook; Trade Unionist |
| Movement | Culinary Workers Union; Women Workers Federation |
Petronila Infantes (La Paz, 29 June 1911 - La Paz, 8 October 1991) was an anarchist and trade unionist from Bolivia. She was the founder of the Culinary Workers Union. She was a leader of the women's anarchist movement in Bolivia.
Infantes was born in La Paz on 29 June 1911. [1] At a very young age she went to live in Eucaliptus. [2] She worked with her father for an American company there, but he died when she was very young. [2] Soon after she started working as a street vendor, [3] then later as a cook, trained by her mother. [4] [5] During her first marriage she had a son, José Enrique, and a daughter, Alicia. [1] Her wedding was a civil, rather than a religious ceremony, as she was suspicious of where and how the church's wealth was distributed. [6]
“Women organize like this: We defend ourselves, we manage ourselves."
— Petronila Infantes
One of the anti-discrimination protests that Infantes was involved in revolved around a ban in 1935 on the tram system for people with heavy luggage or clothing that might come in contact with others. [5] This ban was introduced after upper-class women complained that their stockings were being torn by the pollera skirts of lower-class chola women. [5] These women were indigenous and mestiza women, who wore traditional pollera skirts and bowler hats. [7] Many of the women affected were cholas and many worked as cooks, they were tired of being discriminated against and formed the all-female Culinary Workers Union as a response to the discriminatory practices of the tram companies. [5] Infantes was one of its founding members. [8] [9] The tram companies had to overturn the ban, due to public pressure. However politics was not free of discrimination and Infantes recalled how at a conference in 1929, Bolivian upper-class women who were present objected to cholas giving a presentation. [10]
The work of the Culinary Workers Union led to the recognition of cook as a profession, to an eight-hour working day and to the provision of free childcare for working mothers. [5] Its model was adopted by other all-female unions, including the Women's Union of Florists, the Union of Recoveras and the Union of Travellers to the Altiplano. [9] In 1940, all twelve all-female unions incorporated into one. [9] It was Infantes' administrative skills which enabled much of the transformation of all twelve into the Women Workers Federation (FOF) in 1940, [5] and became the FOF's leader. [11] Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Infantes continued to co-ordinate the work of the FOF. [3] At its peak, the FOF was made up of over sixty unions, with Infantes as a key figure. [12] When Infantes was arrested whilst protesting, her young daughter was placed in the goal cell with her. [13]
Many trade unions, such as the National Federation of Domestic Workers of Bolivia, recognise Infantes as one of their pioneers.
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