Prudencia Ayala

Prudencia Ayala was an Indigenous El Salvadorian writer, social activist, and early feminist known for her activity in movements of anti-imperialism, feminism, and Central American reunification. Despite being a young single mother, she embarked on a career in journalism, using her platform to criticize the Salvadoran establishment. Her outspokenness led to her imprisonment on several occasions. 

Ayala was a vocal supporter of women’s rights and encouraged their increased participation in public affairs. In 1931, she made history by becoming the first woman in Latin America to run for the presidency, although her bid was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court. Her campaign preceded women’s suffrage in El Salvador by two decades. For many years, Ayala’s legacy was ignored or omitted from history books, but feminist movements in El Salvador and beyond have reclaimed her as a symbol of freedom, justice, and endurance.