Federación Chilena de Instituciones Femeninas (FECHIF) (Spanish: Chilean Federation of Women's Institutions), was a women's rights organization based in Chile and founded in 1944. The FECHIF functioned as an

umbrella organization An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...

of the Chilean women's movement during the final campaign for the

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

and

basic rights Fundamental rights are a group of rights that have been recognized by a high degree of protection from encroachment. These rights are specifically identified in a constitution, or have been found under due process of law. The United Nations' Sustai ...

of women. Suffrage had been introduced at the municipal level in 1931, partially after the campaign by Comité Nacional pro Derechos de la Mujer, but had not yet been recognized at a national level. The organization's efforts began in 1944 and lasted until the establishment of women's suffrage in Chile in 1949.

Context

Worldwide, the 20th century saw a trend of increasing women's rights, and the period from 1930 to 1940 would be a time of intense activity from female organizations. FECHIF itself was preceded by the creation of the

Pro-Emancipation Movement of Chilean Women Pro-Emancipation Movement of Chilean Women ( es, italic=no, Movimiento Pro-Emancipación de las Mujeres de Chile) (often known as MEMCh or MEMCH) was both a historic women's rights organization, which pressed for equality between 1935 and 1953 and a ...

(MEMCH) in 1935, which sought to organize and create a progressive conscience in the country. The movement would come to actively promote and participate in FECHIF matters.

Goals and Ideals

The enactment of municipal women's suffrage in 1931 was simply a prelude for realizing nationwide suffrage for Chilean women. In January 1941, Chilean President

Pedro Aguirre Cerda Pedro Abelino Aguirre Cerda (; February 6, 1879 – November 25, 1941) was a Chilean political figure, educator, and lawyer who served as the 22nd president of Chile from 1938 until his death in 1941. A member of the Radical Party since 1906, ...

, together with FECHIF, presented to the Senate a plan written by

Elena Caffarena Elena Caffarena Morice (; March 23, 1903 - July 19, 2003) was a Chilean lawyer, jurist and politician. Contemporary historians and humanists consider her to be one of the most important 20th-century public figures in Chile. Biography Elena Caffa ...

and Flor Heredia to allow female voting. This plan was never brought to discussion. The First Women's National Congress (Spanish: Primer Congreso Nacional de Mujeres) was held in

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...

between October and November 1944 and was fundamental in consolidating a unity of women's organizations. This meeting directly led to the creation of FECHIF with the principal goal of fighting for political rights for women, mainly suffrage. While the women's organizations of this era had a democratic discourse, the MEMCH and FECHIF were two of several organizations that differed in their notions of democracy.

Achievements and Weakening

The FECHIF and other organizations succeeded in creating a collective progress consciousness among women regardless of social class or political affiliation, although the movement was led by high-class and middle-class women. Nevertheless, the movement would leave an impact lasting for many years, eventually succeeding in gaining women's suffrage nationwide in 1949. However, FECHIF was gravely weakened in 1946 under the administration of Radical President Gabriel González Videla.Corinne Pernet, "Historia del Memch y sus obstáculos" en Disciplina y Descato: Construcción de Identidad en Chile S.XIX y S.XX , Santiago, SurCedem, 1997, p.289 Tensions provoked by polarization and the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

influenced Videla to take an

anti-communist Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, w ...

position and issue the

Law of Permanent Defense of Democracy In 1948, on the initiative of Chilean President Gabriel González Videla, the Chilean National Congress enacted the Permanent Defense of Democracy Law ( es, Ley de Defensa Permanente de la Democracia, Ley N° 8.987), referred to by many as the Damn ...

in 1948, banning the Communist Party of Chile. This action produced a schism within the FECHIF, pressuring them to remove their left-wing branch. The MEMCH, who previously worked in parallel with FECHIF, publicly denounced the arbitrary expulsion of the activists and withdrew. This grave loss caused a permanent division within the Federation, ultimately bringing it to its end.

References

{{Reflist Organizations established in 1944 Women's rights organizations Women's organisations based in Chile 1944 establishments in Chile Feminist organisations in Chile Women's suffrage in Chile