Victoria Kent: A Fight For Rights And Freedoms

Victoria Kent was the first female law graduate. She became a lawyer, politician and deputy during a period in which these professions were reserved for men.

In this article, we want to highlight the figure of one of the most influential women of the 20th century. If even in the times in which we find ourselves it is difficult to be a woman in a world of men, the role played by the protagonist of whom we speak today had greater value.

Who was Victoria Kent?

Kent was born in Malaga, into a humble and liberal family, but the exact year of his birth is unknown; Some date the date in 1892, while others place it between 1897 and 1898. What can be said is that she was a decisive woman throughout the 20th century.

In 1917, Victoria Kent Siano came to Madrid to study Law. After graduating and being the first woman to do so, she began her work as a defense attorney.

In addition, she stands out as the first woman to hold a position as director general of prisons, without diminishing the importance of her work as a deputy during two legislatures of the Second Republic. This position was held together with Clara Campoamor and Margarita Nelken, being the first three deputies to the Constituent Cortes for Madrid of Spain.

But above all, and as relevant data, she was the promoter of the reform of the prison system, as well as an authentic symbol of Spanish feminism.

After the Civil War, she was forced into exile in France and, later, in Mexico and the United States, she would not return to Spain until 38 years after the war ended. Kent died in New York in 1987.

Justice

Kent became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of War and Navy as a defense attorney. She was admitted as a member of the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation, and the International Association of Criminal Law in Geneva.

Among other notable achievements, we must not forget that, in addition, it was the first to have its own law firm.

Likewise, in 1931, she was appointed Director General of Prisons and carried out a prison reform marked by important modifications:

• Humanization in the living conditions of inmates.
• The professionalization of the prison staff.
• The creation of a female body of civil servants.
• The order for the construction of the Jail for Women of Sales in Madrid.

All these previous points are closely related to article 25.2 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978: ” custodial sentences and security measures will be oriented towards re-education and social reintegration “.

Thus, it also highlights that the convicted person “will have the right to paid work and the corresponding Social Security benefits, as well as access to culture and the integral development of their personality.”

Female suffrage

Although it may seem strange, Victoria Kent was a staunch opponent of the female vote,  something that the confrontation with Clara Campoamor cost her. This was because he believed that it should be deferred until the woman gained greater independence from both the man and the church.

This is how she defended it herself before the courts on October 1, 1931:

Although it may seem contradictory, in reality, she was an advocate for equality between men and women; It asked, first of all, that women have the right and freedom to join working, cultural and educational life so that they can think freely and fight for established ideals.

Ultimately, we must honor and thank all the brave women in history who paved the way for us after fighting for their ideals.