feminism - Haiti Observer Blog

The feminism movement in Haiti had its start among the ladies of the elite class. In 1934, a group from the upper class, wishing to be a part of the shaping of Haiti's future, aligned following the end of the occupation by the United States. They would call themselves LFAS, or the Ligue Feministe d'Action Sociale.

The main focus of the group, which was led by Madeleine Sylvain Bouchereau, and Alice Garoute, was to promote gender equality, and they argued that Haiti's future would be dependent on this crucial element of women's right to vote, access to civil rights, and education. As was the case in most countries at that time, men were considered superior, by both genders, and so, despite zealous efforts on the part of the LFAS, it wasn't until 1946 that their voices became heard, and yet again, not until a few years later that their labor would bear fruit.

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