A revolução das feministas portuguesas : 1972-1975

Abstract

“The Revolution of Portuguese Feminists 1972-1975 – From the ‘The Case of the Three Marias’ to the formation of MLM – Women’s Liberation Movement” aims to analyse, criticize and describe the events that contributed for the emergence of radical feminism in Portugal and for the appearance of the first feminist group MLM – Women´s Liberation Movement, following 1974 Revolution. This study analyses the relationship between three central and intertwined episodes: the censorship of the book “The New Portuguese Letters” – written by Maria Isabel Barreno, Maria Teresa Horta and Maria Velho da Costa – the three authors’ trial and acquittance and the international feminist movement of solidarity. These events contributed for the birth of The MLM – Women’s Liberation Movement. It also traces the history of MLM – Women’s Liberation Movement, from its birth to its death examining how the group organized meetings, public actions and set up a feminist agenda demanding equal rights for women, the end of patriarchy and legal abortion. MLM became the first Portuguese feminist group to embrace radical politics as a means of action and empowerment for women This study underlines the importance of “The Case of the Three Marias”, as it became internationally known, for the beginning of Second Wave’s transnational feminist activism and the significance of MLM – Women’s Liberation Movement, for the following generations of Portuguese feminists.