1.

Identify main traits of the feminist movement and its impact in America and the
Dominican Republic.

The feminist movement refers to political campaigns for reforms on issues like reproductive
rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal; pay, women’s suffrage, sexual harassment and
sexual violence. This wave of feminism expands the topic of feminism to include a diverse group
of women with a diverse set of identities. Dominican society, in only 5 years has continued to
see a rise of feminicides nationally and internationally, raising concerns on whether women’s
development and empowerment levels have actually increased or reduced. Women in la Capital
in theory are more likely to be incorporated at the social, economic, and political levels which
allows them more space to define, construct, and apply their empowerment, unlike women of
Santiago and more rural areas who lack locality and available resources. The Dominican
Republic as a nation differs drastically on the levels of women’s empowerment and development
in comparison to other islands in the Caribbean and countries in Latin America. Latin American
feminism focuses on the critical work that women have undertaken in reaction to the forces that
created this context. At present, the context is dominated by neoliberal economic policies that, in
the environment of globalization, have disproportionally impacted the most vulnerable segments
of society.

2. Identify role of Milagros Ortiz Bosch and Margarita Cedeño in the political life of
D.R.

Milagros Ortiz Bosch was the first Dominican woman to be vice president of the country,
serving from 2000 until 2004 with Hipólito Mejía. She is a law advisor, money manager and
lawmaker. She was a senator of the National District on two occasions and Secretary of State for
Education of the Dominican Republic. Born into a middle-class family that was not allowed to
grow further because of social norms set during the Trujillo Regime but she followed principles
of honesty and hard work to get to her position.

Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández is the first Dominican lawyer to become First Lady of the
Republic, a role she performed from August 2004 to 2012, when her husband, Dr. Leonel
Fernández Reyna, was sworn in as Constitutional President of the Dominican Republic. She was
the vice president of the Dominican Republic in 2012 until 2020, and the second first lady of the
Dominican Republic since the position was assigned in the country in the year 2000.

3. Identify roles of women such as Nuria Piera, Julia Alvarez, Jenny Berenice
Reynoso, Faride Raful, Alexandra Izquierdo, Alejandrina German, Melba Segura
de Grullón and Milagros German. State their most significant contribution to
empowering Dominican women. ( minimum of three sentences for each)

Nuria Piera Nuria Piera is a communicator, lawyer, marketer,

and journalist. She has managed to standout for
the quality she delivers with her work and for
 coming forward in documenting difficult issues
in the Dominican nation that have earned her
death threats. Her impeccable work has made
this outstanding journalist be recognized by
different national and international institutions,
distinguishing her with various awards and
recognitions, such as the Board of the Blind,
Unicef, National Human Rights Commission,
Circle of Dominican Broadcasters, Cultural
Movements, Secretariat State of Public Health,
Dominican College of Journalists, Catemar
Productions and several foundations.
Julia Alvarez Julia Álvarez is a Dominican writer, poet and
teacher. She wrote “En el tiempo de las
Mariposas” inspired by the political troubles her
parents have gone through during Trujillo’s
dictatorship. She felt that being a survivor of the
regime she needed to tell the story of these
women who paved the way for Dominican
women in standing their ground.

Yeni Berenice Reynoso Yeni Berenice is a Dominican lawyer and former

fiscal prosecutor of Santiago. She is the current
fiscal prosecutor of the national district since
2012. She is the first woman in Santiago to be
elected as a public prosecutor.
Faride Raful Faride Raful is a lawyer, Social Communicator
and accredited announcer. She is the current
senator for the PRM. She is a defender of
women rights, is an advocate for highly
commented projects in the country.
Alexandra Izquierdo Alexandra Izquierdo is the national director of
the National Statistical Office (ONE). She has
presented out a compilation of data related to the
progress of women in Dominican society and the
challenges they still face the females.
Alejandrina German Alejandrina German is the minister for women
of the Dominican Republic. She has worked as a
teacher of Initial, Basic and Middle Levels and at
the Escuela Normal Superior Félix Evaristo
Mejía. At the Higher Level, she has been a
teacher and consultant in the Education career
and Specialization and Master courses in several
Dominican universities.
Melba Segura de Grullón Melba Segura Grullón is a promoter of
community development projects. The Sur
 Futuro Foundation has been under the command
of a woman of mettle for four years. Melba
Segura de Grullón, daughter of the South, is
dedicated to the fight against poverty in the
provinces of Azua, San Juan, Elías Piña,
Pedernales, Barahona, Independence and
Bahoruco.
Milagros German Milagros German is a prominent Dominican
producer, television presenter and actress, who
took her first steps in beauty pageants early of
the decade of the 80. Milagros Germán was
appointed by President Luis Abinader as
Director of Communications and Spokesperson
for the Presidency of the Dominican Republic
during his government, becoming the first
Dominican woman to hold this position.

4. The 2020 elections brought new names and faces into the political life of the
Dominican nation, Raquel Arbaje and Raaquel Peña. Summarize the roles they
currently play and how you think they are working towards equality and
empowerment.

The first lady of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Arbaje de Abinader, has announced the
creation of campaigns like rural women, an initiative that brings together 25 organizations and
public, private and multilateral entities, convened by the Alliance of Spouses of Heads of State
and Representatives (ALMA) and the Organization of Nations United Nations for Food and
Agriculture (FAO). As a Dominican, she aspires to be useful to her compatriots and is willing to
work actively for the success of the objectives of President Abinader Corona, whose government
program expressly vindicates the economic autonomy and equal rights of peasant women and
recognizes their invaluable contribution in the fight against hunger.

Raquel Peña has said that some of her goals include improving the income and quality of life
of Dominican women is vital to mitigate gender-based violence. We will work to reduce the
wage gap, and to increase access to aid for women in vulnerable situations. Women's
entrepreneurship will be supported through credit programs, technical assistance, market
identification, job reeducation and technological training, in order to achieve equal pay and move
towards production in the new economy.

5. In your opinion how are the human rights of women violated ? minimum 100 words.
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world,
from birth until death. Women’s rights are being violated everyday with aspects that highlight
the gender inequality like gender violence, sexual violence and harassment and workplace
discrimination. Gender based violence happens to women and girls in disproportionate numbers.
Women and girls in conflict are especially at risk from violence, and throughout history sexual
violence has been used as a weapon of war. Violence against women is a major human rights
violation. It is the responsibility of a state to protect women from gender-based violence - even
domestic abuse behind closed doors. Sexual violence is when someone is physically sexually
assaulted. Although men and boys can also be victims of sexual violence, it is women and girls
who are overwhelmingly affected. Equal pay for the same work is a human right, but time and
again women are denied access to a fair and equal wage. We cannot have a free and equal
society until everyone is free and equal. Until women enjoy the the same rights as men, this
inequality is everyone’s problem.